On the Hartogs Extension Theorem for Unbounded Domains in C\u3csup\u3en\u3c/sup\u3e

Let Ω ⊂ Cn, n \u3e 2, be a domain with smooth connected boundary. If Ω is relatively compact, the Hartogs–Bochner theorem ensures that every CR distribution on ∂Ω has a holomorphic extension to Ω. For unbounded domains this extension property may fail, for example if Ω contains a complex hypersurface. The main result in this paper tells that the extension property holds if and only if the envelope of holomorphy of Cn \ Ω is Cn. It seems that it is the first result in the literature which gives a geometric characterization of unbounded domains in Cn for which the Hartogs phenomenon holds. Comparing this to earlier work by the first two authors and Z. Słodkowski, one observes that the extension problem changes in character if one restricts to CR functions of higher regularity

Draft Genome Sequences of Four Lactococcus lactis Strains Isolated from Diverse Niches, Including Dairy Products, Grass, and Green Peas

Lactococcus lactis has been used for millennia as a starter organism in the production of many fermented dairy products. This announcement includes the draft genome sequences of four strains of Lactococcus lactis, two of dairy origin and two from nondairy sources

Effects of a liquefied petroleum gas stove intervention on gestational blood pressure: Intention-to-treat and exposure-response findings from the HAPIN trial

BACKGROUND: Approximately 3 to 4 billion people worldwide are exposed to household air pollution, which has been associated with increased blood pressure (BP) in pregnant women in some studies. METHODS: We recruited 3195 pregnant women in Guatemala, India, Peru, and Rwanda and randomly assigned them to intervention or control groups. The intervention group received a gas stove and fuel during pregnancy, while the controls continued cooking with solid fuels. We measured BP and personal exposure to PM RESULTS: Median 24-hour PM CONCLUSIONS: In intention-to-treat, we found higher gestational BP in the intervention group compared with controls, contrary to expected. In exposure-response analyses, we found a slight increase in BP with higher exposure, but it was not statistically significant. Overall, an intervention with gas stoves did not markedly affect gestational BP

Energy loss through the steam trap in a steam system

This thesis is about the energy loss through the steam trap in the steam system. In industry, steam traps frequently fail but they are not noticed except when they are leaking. If steam trap fail in failed open, live steam can escape to surrounding. High amount of energy will loss from the steam system. It takes weeks or months before it being repaired or replaced. The first objective of this study is to measure the heat loss for normal thermodynamic steam trap in respond to operating pressure for different condensate load. The second objective is to measure the heat loss for failed open thermodynamic steam trap in respond to operating pressure for different condensate load. The last objective is to compare energy loss between normal and failed open steam trap. From the last objective, the actual energy loss if failed steam trap is not repaired is determined. Thermodynamic steam trap has been tested in the experiment and the operating pressure is below 1 bar. Condensate that discharges from steam trap is collected to record the reading of its temperature and weight. These data is used to determine the energy loss through the steam trap. For normal steam trap, energy loss for high condensate load is higher than low condensate load. For failed open steam trap, energy loss for high condensate load is lower than low condensate load. Finally, after comparing the result, steam system that has low condensate load has higher energy loss compare to high condensate load

New histone deacetylase inhibitors as potential therapeutic tools for advanced prostate carcinoma

The anti-epileptic drug valproic acid is also under trial as an anti-cancer agent due to its histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory properties. However, the effects of valproic acid (VPA) are limited and concentrations required for exerting anti-neoplastic effects in vitro may not be reached in tumour patients. In this study, we tested in vitro and in vivo effects of two VPA-derivatives (ACS2, ACS33) on pre-clinical prostate cancer models. PC3 and DU-145 prostate tumour cell lines were treated with various concentrations of ACS2 or ACS33 to perform in vitro cell proliferation 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays and to evaluate tumour cell adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers. Analysis of acetylated histones H3 and H4 protein expression was performed by western blotting. In vivo tumour growth was conducted in subcutaneous xenograft mouse models. Tumour sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry for histone H3 acetylation and proliferation. ACS2 and ACS33 significantly up-regulated histone H3 and H4 acetylation in prostate cancer cell lines. In micromolar concentrations both compounds exerted growth arrest in PC3 and DU-145 cells and prevented tumour cell attachment to endothelium. In vivo, ACS33 inhibited the growth of PC3 in subcutaneous xenografts. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting confirmed increased histone H3 acetylation and reduced proliferation. ACS2 and ACS33 represent novel VPA derivatives with superior anti-tumoural activities, compared to the mother compound. This investigation lends support to the clinical testing of ACS2 or ACS33 for the treatment of prostate cancer

Proactive prevention: Act now to disrupt the impending non-communicable disease crisis in low-burden populations

Non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention efforts have traditionally targeted high-risk and high-burden populations. We propose an alteration in prevention efforts to also include emphasis and focus on low-risk populations, predominantly younger individuals and low-prevalence populations. We refer to this approach as proactive prevention. This emphasis is based on the priority to put in place policies, programs, and infrastructure that can disrupt the epidemiological transition to develop NCDs among these groups, thereby averting future NCD crises. Proactive prevention strategies can be classified, and their implementation prioritized, based on a 2-dimensional assessment: impact and feasibility. Thus, potential interventions can be categorized into a 2-by-2 matrix: high impact/high feasibility, high impact/low feasibility, low impact/high feasibility, and low impact/low feasibility. We propose that high impact/high feasibility interventions are ready to be implemented (act), while high impact/low feasibility interventions require efforts to foster buy-in first. Low impact/high feasibility interventions need to be changed to improve their impact while low impact/low feasibility might be best re-designed in the context of limited resources. Using this framework, policy makers, public health experts, and other stakeholders can more effectively prioritize and leverage limited resources in an effort to slow or prevent the evolving global NCD crisis