The Strong Coupling Constant from Hadron Structure Phenomenology

We present recent developments on the role of the running coupling constant at the intersection of perturbative and nonperturbative QCD. A number of experiments show a smooth transition from small to large scales given by the four-momentum transfer in the reactions. This is at variance with perturbative QCD where the running coupling constant becomes infinite when the scale equals $\Lambda_{{\tiny QCD}}$. Approaches using an effective coupling constant could help interpret the opposite trend of data as compared to standard perturbative QCD predictions. We give an overview of the role of the coupling constant in the procedure to match nonperturbative hadronic model to perturbative QCD and we propose an extraction of an effective coupling constant from inclusive electron proton scattering data at large Bjorken x.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the QCD Evolution Workshop, JLab, May 14-17, 2012. Includes ws-ijmpcs.cl

Einstein's Equations with Asymptotically Stable Constraint Propagation

We introduce a proposal to modify Einstein's equations by embedding them in a larger symmetric hyperbolic system. The additional dynamical variables of the modified system are essentially first integrals of the original constraints. The extended system of equations reproduces the usual dynamics on the constraint surface of general relativity, and therefore naturally includes the solutions to Einstein gravity. The main feature of this extended system is that, at least for a linearized version of it, the constraint surface is an attractor of the time evolution. This feature suggests that this system may be a useful alternative to Einstein's equations when obtaining numerical solutions to full, non-linear gravity.Comment: 23 pages, submitted to JMP, added reference for section

Well-posed forms of the 3+1 conformally-decomposed Einstein equations

We show that well-posed, conformally-decomposed formulations of the 3+1 Einstein equations can be obtained by densitizing the lapse and by combining the constraints with the evolution equations. We compute the characteristics structure and verify the constraint propagation of these new well-posed formulations. In these formulations, the trace of the extrinsic curvature and the determinant of the 3-metric are singled out from the rest of the dynamical variables, but are evolved as part of the well-posed evolution system. The only free functions are the lapse density and the shift vector. We find that there is a 3-parameter freedom in formulating these equations in a well-posed manner, and that part of the parameter space found consists of formulations with causal characteristics, namely, characteristics that lie only within the lightcone. In particular there is a 1-parameter family of systems whose characteristics are either normal to the slicing or lie along the lightcone of the evolving metric.Comment: 22 page

Metabolic and vascular effect of the mediterranean diet

Several studies indicated how dietary patterns that were obtained from nutritional cluster analysis can predict disease risk or mortality. Low-grade chronic inflammation represents a background pathogenetic mechanism linking metabolic risk factors to increased risk of chronic degenerative diseases. A Mediterranean diet (MeDi) style has been reported as associated with a lower degree of inflammation biomarkers and with a protective role on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. There is heterogeneity in defining the MedDiet, and it can, owing to its complexity, be considered as an exposome with thousands of nutrients and phytochemicals. Recently, it has been reported a novel positive association between baseline plasma ceramide concentrations and cardiovascular events and how adherence to a Mediterranean Diet-style may influence the potential negative relationship between elevated plasma ceramide concentrations and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) showed the positive effects of the MeDi diet style on several cardiovascular risk factors, such as body mass index, waist circumference, blood lipids, blood pressure, inflammatory markers and adhesion molecules, and diabetes and how these advantages of the MeDi are maintained in comparison of a low-fat diet. Some studies reported a positive effect of adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and heart failure incidence, whereas some recent studies, such as the PREDIMED study, showed that the incidence of major cardiovascular events was lower among those assigned to MeDi supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts than among those assigned to a reduced-fat diet. New studies are needed to better understand the molecular mechanisms, whereby the MedDiet may exercise its effects. Here, we present recent advances in understanding the molecular basis of MedDiet effects, mainly focusing on cardiovascular diseases, but also discussing other related diseases. We review MedDiet composition and assessment as well as the latest advances in the genomic, epigenomic (DNA methylation, histone modifications, microRNAs, and other emerging regulators), transcriptomic (selected genes and whole transcriptome), and metabolomic and metagenomic aspects of the MedDiet effects (as a whole and for its most typical food components). We also present a review of the clinical effects of this dietary style underlying the biochemical and molecular effects of the Mediterranean diet. Our purpose is to review the main features of the Mediterranean diet in particular its benefits on human health, underling the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerotic effects to which new knowledge about epigenetic and gut-microbiota relationship is recently added

Exploring Nucleon Structure with the Self-Organizing Maps Algorithm

We discuss the application of an alternative type of neural network, the Self-Organizing Map to extract parton distribution functions from various hard scattering processes.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1309.708

An Exact Universal Gravitational Lensing Equation

We first define what we mean by gravitational lensing equations in a general space-time. A set of exact relations are then derived that can be used as the gravitational lens equations in all physical situations. The caveat is that into these equations there must be inserted a function, a two-parameter family of solutions to the eikonal equation, not easily obtained, that codes all the relevant (conformal) space-time information for this lens equation construction. Knowledge of this two-parameter family of solutions replaces knowledge of the solutions to the geodesic equations. The formalism is then applied to the Schwarzschild lensing problemComment: 12 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Lipid storage and autophagy in melanoma cancer cells

Cancer stem cells (CSC) represent a key cellular subpopulation controlling biological features such as cancer progression in all cancer types. By using melanospheres established from human melanoma patients, we compared less differentiated melanosphere-derived CSC to differentiating melanosphere-derived cells. Increased lipid uptake was found in melanosphere-derived CSC vs. differentiating melanosphere-derived cells, paralleled by strong expression of lipogenic factors Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein-1 (SREBP-1) and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). An inverse relation between lipid-storing phenotype and autophagy was also found, since microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-Light Chain 3 (LC3) lipidation is reduced in melanosphere-derived CSC. To investigate upstream autophagy regulators, Phospho-AMP activated Protein Kinase (P-AMPK) and Phospho-mammalian Target of Rapamycin (P-mTOR) were analyzed; lower P-AMPK and higher P-mTOR expression in melanosphere-derived CSC were found, thus explaining, at least in part, their lower autophagic activity. In addition, co-localization of LC3-stained autophagosome spots and perilipin-stained lipid droplets was demonstrated mainly in differentiating melanosphere-derived cells, further supporting the role of autophagy in lipid droplets clearance. The present manuscript demonstrates an inverse relationship between lipid-storing phenotype and melanoma stem cells differentiation, providing novel indications involving autophagy in melanoma stem cells biology

No more time to stay ‘single’ in the detection of Anisakis pegreffii, A. simplex (s. s.) and hybridization events between them: a multi-marker nuclear genotyping approach

A multi-marker nuclear genotyping approach was performed on larval and adult specimens of Anisakis spp. (N = 689) collected from fish and cetaceans in allopatric and sympatric areas of the two species Anisakis pegreffii and Anisakis simplex (s. s.), in order to: (1) identify specimens belonging to the parental taxa by using nuclear markers (allozymes loci) and sequence analysis of a new diagnostic nuclear DNA locus (i.e. partial sequence of the EF1 α−1 nDNA region) and (2) recognize hybrid categories. According to the Bayesian clustering algorithms, based on those markers, most of the individuals (N = 678) were identified as the parental species [i.e. A. pegreffii or A. simplex (s. s.)], whereas a smaller portion (N = 11) were recognized as F1 hybrids. Discordant results were obtained when using the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR–RFLPs) of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) on the same specimens, which indicated the occurrence of a large number of ‘hybrids’ both in sympatry and allopatry. These findings raise the question of possible misidentification of specimens belonging to the two parental Anisakis and their hybrid categories derived from the application of that single marker (i.e. PCR–RFLPs analysis of the ITS of rDNA). Finally, Bayesian clustering, using allozymes and EF1 α−1 nDNA markers, has demonstrated that hybridization between A. pegreffii and A. simplex (s. s.) is a contemporary phenomenon in sympatric areas, while no introgressive hybridization takes place between the two species

Cancer microenvironment and endoplasmic reticulum stress response

Different stressful conditions such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, pH changes, or reduced vascularization, potentially able to act as growth-limiting factors for tumor cells, activate the unfolded protein response (UPR). UPR is therefore involved in tumor growth and adaptation to severe environments and is generally cytoprotective in cancer. The present review describes the molecular mechanisms underlying UPR and able to promote survival and proliferation in cancer. The critical role of UPR activation in tumor growth promotion is discussed in detail for a few paradigmatic tumors such as prostate cancer and melanoma