312 research outputs found
Strichartz Estimates for the Vibrating Plate Equation
We study the dispersive properties of the linear vibrating plate (LVP)
equation. Splitting it into two Schr\"odinger-type equations we show its close
relation with the Schr\"odinger equation. Then, the homogeneous Sobolev spaces
appear to be the natural setting to show Strichartz-type estimates for the LVP
equation. By showing a Kato-Ponce inequality for homogeneous Sobolev spaces we
prove the well-posedness of the Cauchy problem for the LVP equation with
time-dependent potentials. Finally, we exhibit the sharpness of our results.
This is achieved by finding a suitable solution for the stationary homogeneous
vibrating plate equation.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, some misprints correcte
The Syntaxin-1A gene single nucleotide polymorphism rs4717806 associates with the risk of ischemic heart disease
Ischemic heart disease (IHD) has a genetic predisposition and a number of cardiovascular risk factors are known to be affected by genetic factors. Development of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, strongly influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors, frequently occur in subjects with a genetic susceptibility. The definition of genetic factors influencing disease susceptibility would allow to identify individuals at higher risk and thus needing to be closely monitored.To this end, we focused on a complex of soluble-N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs), playing an important role in metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, involved in endothelial dysfunction and heart disease. We assessed if genetic variants of the SNARE genes are associated with IHD.SNAP25 rs363050, Stx-1A rs4717806, rs2293489, and VAMP2 26bp ins/del genetic polymorphisms were analyzed in a cohort of 100 participants who underwent heart surgery; 56 of them were affected by IHD, while 44 were not. A statistical association of plasma glycemia and insulin resistance, calculated as Triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, was observed in IHD (P<.001 and P=.03, respectively) after binomial logistic stepwise regression analysis, adjusted by age, gender, diabetes positivity, waist circumference, and cholesterol plasma level. Among genetic polymorphisms, rs4717806(A) and rs2293489(T), as well as the rs4717806 - rs2293489 (A-T) haplotype were associated with higher risk for IHD (Pc=.02; Pc=.02; P=.04, respectively). Finally, a statistical association of rs4717806(AA) genotype with higher TyG index in IHD patients (P=.03) was highlighted by multiple regression analysis considering log-transformed biochemical parameters as dependent variable and presence of coronary artery disease, age, gender, waist circumference, presence of diabetes as predictors. These results point to a role of the Stx-1A rs4717806 SNP in IHD, possibly due to its influence on Stx-1A expression and, as a consequence, on insulin secretion and glucose metabolism
Exploratory study about the prescription pattern of medicines containing Hypericum perforatum extracts by psychiatrists in Porto Alegre (Brazil)
Neste trabalho foi realizado um estudo exploratório sobre o padrão de prescrição de medicamentos a
base de Hypericum perforatum por médicos psiquiatras na cidade de Porto Alegre - RS. O desenho foi um estudo
transversal, exploratório, por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada. Dos 37 psiquiatras entrevistados apenas 2
prescrevem estes medicamentos, para o tratamento de depressão leve e moderada, quando seus pacientes apresentam
intolerância aos antidepressivos sintéticos. Eles consideram os resultados terapêuticos de regulares a bons
e os efeitos adversos, de leves a inexistentes. A maioria dos médicos relata que tem conhecimento da utilização
de H. perforatum em casos de depressão leve a moderada, principalmente através de artigos científicos e livros.
A suposição de que estes produtos são pouco eficazes é a principal justificativa para sua não prescrição. Os resultados
indicam que os psiquiatras conhecem medicamentos à base de H. perforatum, mas que a prescrição dos
mesmos não é usual.The aim of this study was to assess the prescription
pattern of medicines containing Hypericum perforatum extracts by psychiatrists in Porto Alegre ?
RS. It constituted a transversal, investigational study performed by using a structured interview. The most
of the interviewed physicians (37) do not prescribe medicines containing extracts of Hypericum perforatum,
because they don?t believe these products are effective and safe. However they declared to have knowledge
about the use of Hypericum for treating mild to moderate depression by reading scientific papers and
biomedical books. Two psychiatrists informed they prescribe these medicines when the patients can?t bear
the adverse effects of the standard antidepressants. They have considered the therapeutic outcome as regular
to good, and did not observe significant adverse reactions. The results indicate the psychiatrists have
knowledge about the use of medicines containing extracts of Hypericum perforatum as antidepressants.
Nevertheless, the prescription is not common.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire
Number of implants placed for complete‐arch fixed prostheses: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Objectives
The main purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate outcomes related to the number of implants utilized to support complete‐arch fixed prostheses, both for the maxilla and the mandible.
Materials and methods
This review followed the reporting guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA). A focused question using the PICO format was developed, questioning whether “In patients with an implant supported fixed complete dental prosthesis, do implant and prosthetic survival outcomes differ between five or more compared to fewer than five supporting implants?”. A comprehensive search of the literature was formulated and performed electronically and by hand search. Two independent reviewers selected the papers and tabulated results. Primary outcomes analyzed were implant and prosthesis survival. Implant distribution, loading, and type of retention were observed as secondary outcomes, as they relate to the number of implants. A meta‐analysis was performed to compare results for studies by number of implants.
Results
The search strategy identified 1,579 abstracts for initial review. Based on evaluation of the abstracts, 359 articles were identified for full‐text evaluation. From these, 93 were selected and included in this review, being nine RCTs, 42 prospective and 42 retrospective. Of the 93 selected studies, 28 reported number of implants for the maxilla, 46 for the mandible, and 19 for both maxilla and mandible. The most reported number of implants for the “fewer than five” group is 4 for the maxilla, and 3 and 4 for the mandible, whereas for the “five or more” implants group, the most reported number of implants was 6 for the maxilla and 5 for the mandible. No significant differences in the primary outcomes analyzed were identified when fewer than five implants per arch were compared with five or more implants per arch (p > 0.05), in a follow‐up time ranging from 1 to 15 years (median of 8 years).
Conclusions
Evidence from this systematic review and meta‐analysis suggests that the use of fewer than five implants per arch, when compared to five or more implants per arch, to support a fixed prosthesis of the completely edentulous maxilla or mandible, present similar survival rates, with no statistical significant difference at a p < 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95%
Potential of Magnetic Hyperthermia to Stimulate Localized Immune Activation
Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) harnesses the heat-releasing properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and has potential to stimulate immune activation in the tumor microenvironment whilst sparing surrounding normal tissues. To assess feasibility of localized MH in vivo, SPIONs are injected intratumorally and their fate tracked by Zirconium-89-positron emission tomography, histological analysis, and electron microscopy. Experiments show that an average of 49% (21-87%, n = 9) of SPIONs are retained within the tumor or immediately surrounding tissue. In situ heating is subsequently generated by exposure to an externally applied alternating magnetic field and monitored by thermal imaging. Tissue response to hyperthermia, measured by immunohistochemical image analysis, reveals specific and localized heat-shock protein expression following treatment. Tumor growth inhibition is also observed. To evaluate the potential effects of MH on the immune landscape, flow cytometry is used to characterize immune cells from excised tumors and draining lymph nodes. Results show an influx of activated cytotoxic T cells, alongside an increase in proliferating regulatory T cells, following treatment. Complementary changes are found in draining lymph nodes. In conclusion, results indicate that biologically reactive MH is achievable in vivo and can generate localized changes consistent with an anti-tumor immune response
Air and water pollution over time and industries with stochastic dominance
We employ a stochastic dominance (SD) approach to analyze the components that contribute to environmental degradation over time. The variables include countries\u2019 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water pollution. Our approach is based on pair-wise SD tests. First, we study the dynamic progress of each separate variable over time, from 1990 to 2005, within 5-year horizons. Then, pair-wise SD tests are used to study the major industry contributors to the overall GHG emissions and water pollution at any given time, to uncover the industry which contributes the most to total emissions and water pollution. While CO2 emissions increased in the first order SD sense over 15 years, water pollution increased in a second-order SD sense. Electricity and heat production were the major contributors to the CO2 emissions, while the food industry gradually became the major water polluting
industry over time.
SD sense over 15 years, water pollution increased in
a second-order SD sense. Electricity and heat production
were the major contributors to the CO2 emissions, while
the food industry gradually
Tunable control of CAR T cell activity through tetracycline mediated disruption of protein-protein interaction
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a promising form of cancer immunotherapy, although they are often associated with severe toxicities. Here, we present a split-CAR design incorporating separate antigen recognition and intracellular signaling domains. These exploit the binding between the tetracycline repressor protein and a small peptide sequence (TIP) to spontaneously assemble as a functional CAR. Addition of the FDA-approved, small molecule antibiotic minocycline, acts as an "off-switch" by displacing the signaling domain and down-tuning CAR T activity. Here we describe the optimization of this split-CAR approach to generate a CAR in which cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion and proliferation can be inhibited in a dose-dependent and reversible manner. Inhibition is effective during on-going CAR T cell activation and inhibits activation and tumor control in vivo. This work shows how optimization of split-CAR structure affects function and adds a novel design allowing easy CAR inhibition through an FDA-approved small molecule
Debt Maturity Choices, Multi-stage Investments and Financing Constraints
We develop a dynamic investment options framework with optimal capital structure and analyze the effect of debt maturity. We find that in the absence of financing constraints short-term debt maximizes firm value. In contrast with most literature results, in the absence of constraints, higher volatility may increase initial debt for firms with low initial revenues, issuing long term debt that expires after the investment option maturity. This effect, which is due to the option value of receiving the value of assets and remaining tax savings, does not hold for short term debt and firms with high profitability, where an increase in volatility reduces the firm value. The importance of short-term debt is reduced in the presence of non-negative equity net worth or debt financing constraints and firms behave more conservatively in the use of initial debt. With non-negative equity net worth, higher volatility has adverse effects on the firm value, while with debt financing constraints higher volatility may enhance firm value for firms with relatively low revenue that have out-of-the-money investment options
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