Controlling Statistical Properties of a Cooper Pair Box Interacting with a Nanomechanical Resonator

We investigate the quantum entropy, its power spectrum, and the excitation inversion of a Cooper pair box interacting with a nanomechanical resonator, the first initially prepared in its excited state, the second prepared in a "cat"-state. The method uses the Jaynes-Cummings model with damping, with different decay rates of the Cooper pair box and distinct detuning conditions, including time dependent detunings. Concerning the entropy, it is found that the time dependent detuning turns the entanglement more stable in comparison with previous results in literature. With respect to the Cooper pair box excitation inversion, while the presence of detuning destroys the its collapses and revivals, it is shown that with a convenient time dependent detuning one recovers such events in a nice way.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Hypertension Is Associated With Intestinal Microbiota Dysbiosis and Inflammation in a Brazilian Population

Hypertension is a major global health challenge, as it represents the main risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular disease. It is a multifactorial clinical condition characterized by high and sustained levels of blood pressure, likely resulting from a complex interplay of endogenous and environmental factors. The gut microbiota has been strongly supposed to be involved but its role in hypertension is still poorly understood. In an attempt to fill this gap, here we characterized the microbial composition of fecal samples from 48 hypertensive and 32 normotensive Brazilian individuals by next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In addition, the cytokine production of peripheral blood samples was investigated to build an immunological profile of these individuals. We identified a dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota in hypertensive subjects, featured by reduced biodiversity and distinct bacterial signatures compared with the normotensive counterpart. Along with a reduction in Bacteroidetes members, hypertensive individuals were indeed mainly characterized by increased proportions of Lactobacillus and Akkermansia while decreased relative abundances of well-known butyrate-producing commensals, including Roseburia and Faecalibacterium within the Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families. We also observed an inflamed immune profile in hypertensive individuals with an increase in TNF/IFN-\u3b3 ratio, and in TNF and IL-6 production when compared to normotensive ones. Our work provides the first evidence of association of hypertension with altered gut microbiota and inflammation in a Brazilian population. While lending support to the existence of potential microbial signatures of hypertension, likely to be robust to age and geography, our findings point to largely neglected bacteria as potential contributors to intestinal homeostasis loss and emphasize the high vulnerability of hypertensive individuals to inflammation-related disorders

Novel GAA Variants and Mosaicism in Pompe Disease Identified by Extended Analyses of Patients with an Incomplete DNA Diagnosis

Pompe disease is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of the glycogen-hydrolyzing lysosomal enzyme acid α-glucosidase (GAA), which leads to progressive muscle wasting. This autosomal-recessive disorder is the result of disease-associated variants located in the GAA gene. In the present study, we performed extended molecular diagnostic analysis to identify novel disease-associated variants in six suspected Pompe patients from four different families for which conventional diagnostic assays were insufficient. Additional assays, such as a generic-splicing assay, minigene analysis, SNP array analysis, and targeted Sanger sequencing, allowed the identification of an exonic deletion, a promoter deletion, and a novel splicing variant located in the 5′ UTR. Furthermore, we describe the diagnostic process for an infantile patient with an atypical phenotype, consisting of left ventricular hypertrophy but no signs of muscle weakness or motor problems. This led to the identification of a genetic mosaicism for a very severe GAA variant caused by a segmental uniparental isodisomy (UPD). With this study, we aim to emphasize the need for additional analyses to detect new disease-associated GAA variants and non-Mendelian genotypes in Pompe disease where conventional DNA diagnostic assays are insufficient

Update of the Pompe variant database for the prediction of clinical phenotypes: Novel disease-associated variants, common sequence variants, and results from newborn screening

Pompe disease is an inherited disorder caused by disease-associated variants in the acid α-glucosidase gene (GAA). The Pompe disease GAA variant database (http://www.pompevariantdatabase.nl) is a curated, open-source, disease-specific database, and lists disease-associated GAA variants, in silico predictions, and clinical phenotypes reported until 2016. Here, we provide an update to include 226 disease-associated variants that were published until 2020. We also listed 148 common GAA sequence variants that do not cause Pompe disease. GAA variants with unknown severity that were identified only in newborn screening programs were listed as a new feature to indicate the reason why phenotypes were still unknown. Expression studies were performed for common missense variants to predict their severity. The updated Pompe disease GAA variant database now includes 648 disease-associated variants, 26 variants from newborn screening, and 237 variants with unknown severity. Regular updates of the Pompe disease GAA variant database will be required to improve genetic counseling and the study of genotype–phenotype relationships

Clinical And Molecular Spectrum Of Patients With 17β-hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 3 (17-β-hsd3) Deficiency [espectro Clínico E Molecular De Pacientes Com Deficiência De 17β-hidroxiesteroide Desidrogenase Tipo 2 (17-β-hsd3)]

The enzyme 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 (17-β-HSD3) catalyzes the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone in the testes, and its deficiency is a rare disorder of sex development in 46,XY individuals. It can lead to a wide range of phenotypic features, with variable hormonal profiles. We report four patients with the 46,XY karyotype and 17-β-HSD3 deficiency, showing different degrees of genital ambiguity, increased androstenedione and decreased testosterone levels, and testosterone to androstenedione ratio G novel mutation, and c.277+4A>T mutation, both located within the intron 3 splice donor site of the HSD17B3 gene, were identified in case 3. In addition, homozygosis for the missense p.Ala203Val, p.Gly289Ser, p.Arg80Gln mutations were found upon HSD17B3 gene sequencing in cases 1, 2, and 4, respectively. © ABEM todos os direitos reservados.568533539Andersson, S., Moghrabi, N., Physiology and molecular genetics of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (1997) Steroids, 62, pp. 143-147Lukacik, P., Kavanagh, K.L., Oppermann, U., Structure and function of human 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (2006) Mol Cell Endocrinol, 248, pp. 61-71Labrie, F., Luu-The, V., Lin, S.X., Labrie, C., Simard, J., Breton, R., The key role of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in sex steroid biology (1997) Steroids, 62, pp. 148-158George, M.M., New, M.I., Tem, S., Sultan, C., Bhangoo, A., The clinical and molecular heterogeneity of 17aHSD3 enzyme deficiency (2010) Horm Res Paediatr, 74, pp. 229-240Boehmer, A.L., Brinkmann, A.O., Sandkuijl, L.A., Halley, D.J., Niermeijer, M.F., Andersson, S., 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency: Diagnosis, phenotypic variability, population genetics, and worldwide distribution of ancient and de novo mutations (1999) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 84, pp. 4713-4721Mendonça, B.B., Inacio, M., Arnhold, I.J., Costa, E.M., Bloise, W., Martin, R.M., Male pseudohermaphroditism due to 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency. Diagnosis, psychological evaluation, and management (2000) Medicine (Baltimore), 79, pp. 299-309Lee, Y.S., Kirk, J.M., Stanhope, R.G., Johnston, D.I., Harland, S., Auchus, R.J., Phenotypic variability in 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency and diagnostic pitfalls (2007) Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 67, pp. 20-28Faienza, M.F., Giordani, L., Delvecchio, M., Cavallo, L., Clinical, endocrine, and molecular findings in 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 deficiency (2008) J Endocrinol Invest, 31, pp. 85-91Andersson, S., Geissler, W.M., Wu, L., Davis, D.L., Grumbach, M.M., New, M.I., Molecular genetics and pathophysiology of 17 betahydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency (1996) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 81, pp. 130-136Mendonca, B.B., Arnhold, I.J., Bloise, W., Andersson, S., Russell, D.W., Wilson, J.D., 17Beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency in women (1999) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 84, pp. 802-804Prehn, C., Möller, G., Adamski, J., Recent advances in 17betahydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (2009) J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 114, pp. 72-77Hiort, O., Reinecke, S., Thyen, U., Jurgensen, M., Holterhus, P.M., Schon, D., Puberty in disorders of somatosexual differentiation (2003) J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab, 16 (SUPPL. 2), pp. 297-306Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., Gender change in 46, XY persons with 5alphareductase-2 deficiency and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-3 deficiency (2005) Arch Sex Behav, 34, pp. 399-410Faisal Ahmed, S., Iqbal, A., Hughes, I.A., The testosterone: Androstenedione ratio in male undermasculinization (2000) Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 53, pp. 697-702Ben Rhouma, B., Belguith, N., Mnif, M.F., Kamoun, T., Charfi, N., Kamoun, M., A novel nonsense mutation in HSD17B3 gene in a Tunisian patient with sexual ambiguity (2012) J Sex Med, , [Epub ahead of print]Neocleous, V., Sismani, C., Shammas, C., Efstathiou, E., Alexandrou, A., Ioannides, M., Duplication of exons 3-10 of the HSD17B3 gene: A novel type of genetic defect underlying 17g-HSD-3 deficiency (2012) Gene, 499, pp. 250-255Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F., Maniatis, T.E., (1989) Molecular cloning, a laboratory manual, , New York: Cold Spring HarborSaez, J.M., De Peretti, E., Morera, A.M., David, M., Bertrand, J., Familial male pseudohermaphroditism with gynecomastia due to a testicular 17-ketosteroid reductase defect. I. Studies in vivo (1971) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 32, pp. 604-610Saez, J.M., Morera, A.M., De Peretti, E., Bertrand, J., Further in vivo studies in male pseudohermaphroditism with gynecomastia due to a testicular 17-ketosteroid reductase defect (compared to a case of testicular feminization) (1972) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 34, pp. 598-600Rösler, A., Silverstein, S., Abeliovich, D., A (R80Q) mutation in 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 3 gene among Arabs of Israel is associated with pseudohermaphroditism in males and normal asymptomatic females (1996) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 81, pp. 1827-1831Rösler, A., 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency in the Mediterranean population (2006) Pediatr Endocrinol Rev, 3 (SUPPL. 3), pp. 455-461McKeever, B.M., Hawkins, B.K., Geissler, W.M., Wu, L., Sheridan, R.P., Mosley, R.T., Amino acid substitution of arginine 80 in 171-hidroxysteroide dehydrogenase 3 and its effect on NADPH cofator binding and oxidation/reduction kinetics (2002) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1601, pp. 29-37Rosler, A., Belanger, A., Labrie, F., Mechanisms of androgen production in male pseudohermaphroditism due to 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency (1992) J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 75, pp. 773-778Culigan, W., Phoenicia and Phoenician colonization (1991) The Cambridge ancienty history, pp. 461-546. , 2nd Ed, In: Boardman J, Edwards IE, Hammond NG, Sollberger E, Walker CB, eds, Cambridge University PressCavalli-Sforza, L.L., Menozzi, P., Piazza, A., (1994) The history and geography of human genes, pp. 217+242-245+260. , Princeton: Princeton University PressGeissler, W.M., Davis, D.L., Wu, L., Bradshaw, K.D., Patel, S., Mendonça, B.B., Male pseudohermaphroditism caused by mutations of testicular 17o-hidroxysteroide dehydrogenase 3 (1994) Nat Genet, 7, pp. 34-39Moghrabi, N., Hughes, I.A., Dunaif, A., Andersson, S., Deleterious missense mutations and silent polymorphism in the human 17b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 gene (hsd17b3) (1998) J Clin Endocrinol Metabol, 83 (8), pp. 2855-2860http://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Variation/Population?db=core;g=ENSG00000130948;r=9:98997588-99064434;t=ENST00000375263;v=rs2066479;vdb=variation;vf=16374979, Accessed on: Sept 30, 2012Margiotti, K., Kim, E., Pearce, C.L., Spera, E., Novelli, G., Reichardt, J.K., Association of the G289S single nucleotide polymorphism in the HSD17B3 gene with prostate cancer in Italian men (2002) Prostate, 53, pp. 65-68Sata, F., Kurahashi, N., Ban, S., Moriya, K., Tanaka, K.D., Ishizuka, M., Genetic polymorphisms of 17 G-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 and the risk of hypospadias (2010) J Sex Med, 7 (8), pp. 2729-2738Mains, L.M., Vakili, M.B., Lacassie, Y., Andersson, S., Lindqvistc, A., Rock, J.A., 17beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 deficiency in a male Pseudohermaphrodite (2008) Fertil Steril, 89 (1), pp. 228.e13-228.e17Lee, P.A., Houk, C.P., Faisal, A., Hughes, I.A., International Consensus Conference on Intersex organized by the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (2006) Pediatrics, 118, pp. 488-50

Measurement of the polarisation of W bosons produced with large transverse momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS experiment

This paper describes an analysis of the angular distribution of W->enu and W->munu decays, using data from pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the LHC in 2010, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 35 pb^-1. Using the decay lepton transverse momentum and the missing transverse energy, the W decay angular distribution projected onto the transverse plane is obtained and analysed in terms of helicity fractions f0, fL and fR over two ranges of W transverse momentum (ptw): 35 < ptw < 50 GeV and ptw > 50 GeV. Good agreement is found with theoretical predictions. For ptw > 50 GeV, the values of f0 and fL-fR, averaged over charge and lepton flavour, are measured to be : f0 = 0.127 +/- 0.030 +/- 0.108 and fL-fR = 0.252 +/- 0.017 +/- 0.030, where the first uncertainties are statistical, and the second include all systematic effects.Comment: 19 pages plus author list (34 pages total), 9 figures, 11 tables, revised author list, matches European Journal of Physics C versio

Observation of a new chi_b state in radiative transitions to Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(2S) at ATLAS

The chi_b(nP) quarkonium states are produced in proton-proton collisions at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV and recorded by the ATLAS detector. Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 4.4 fb^-1, these states are reconstructed through their radiative decays to Upsilon(1S,2S) with Upsilon->mu+mu-. In addition to the mass peaks corresponding to the decay modes chi_b(1P,2P)->Upsilon(1S)gamma, a new structure centered at a mass of 10.530+/-0.005 (stat.)+/-0.009 (syst.) GeV is also observed, in both the Upsilon(1S)gamma and Upsilon(2S)gamma decay modes. This is interpreted as the chi_b(3P) system.Comment: 5 pages plus author list (18 pages total), 2 figures, 1 table, corrected author list, matches final version in Physical Review Letter

Search for displaced vertices arising from decays of new heavy particles in 7 TeV pp collisions at ATLAS

We present the results of a search for new, heavy particles that decay at a significant distance from their production point into a final state containing charged hadrons in association with a high-momentum muon. The search is conducted in a pp-collision data sample with a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV and an integrated luminosity of 33 pb^-1 collected in 2010 by the ATLAS detector operating at the Large Hadron Collider. Production of such particles is expected in various scenarios of physics beyond the standard model. We observe no signal and place limits on the production cross-section of supersymmetric particles in an R-parity-violating scenario as a function of the neutralino lifetime. Limits are presented for different squark and neutralino masses, enabling extension of the limits to a variety of other models.Comment: 8 pages plus author list (20 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version to appear in Physics Letters