Conical square function estimates and functional calculi for perturbed Hodge-Dirac operators in L^p

Perturbed Hodge-Dirac operators and their holomorphic functional calculi, as investigated in the papers by Axelsson, Keith and the second author, provided insight into the solution of the Kato square-root problem for elliptic operators in $L^2$ spaces, and allowed for an extension of these estimates to other systems with applications to non-smooth boundary value problems. In this paper, we determine conditions under which such operators satisfy conical square function estimates in a range of $L^p$ spaces, thus allowing us to apply the theory of Hardy spaces associated with an operator, to prove that they have a bounded holomorphic functional calculus in those $L^p$ spaces. We also obtain functional calculi results for restrictions to certain subspaces, for a larger range of $p$. This provides a framework for obtaining $L^p$ results on perturbed Hodge Laplacians, generalising known Riesz transform bounds for an elliptic operator $L$ with bounded measurable coefficients, one Sobolev exponent below the Hodge exponent, and $L^p$ bounds on the square-root of $L$ by the gradient, two Sobolev exponents below the Hodge exponent. Our proof shows that the heart of the harmonic analysis in $L^2$ extends to $L^p$ for all $p \in (1,\infty)$, while the restrictions in $p$ come from the operator-theoretic part of the $L^2$ proof. In the course of our work, we obtain some results of independent interest about singular integral operators on tent spaces, and about the relationship between conical and vertical square functions.Comment: 45 pages; mistake correcte

Designing experiments for an application in laser and surface Chemistry

We consider the design used to collect data for a Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) experiment, where the behaviour of interfaces between two phases, for example the surface of a liquid, is investigated. These studies have implications in surfactants, catalysis, membranes and electrochemistry. Ongoing work will be described in designing experiments to investigate nonlinear models used to represent the data, relating the intensity of the SHG signal to the polarisation angles of the polarised light beam. The choice of design points and their effect on parameter estimates is investigated. Various designs and the current practice of using equal-spaced levels are investigated, and their relative merits compared on the basis of the overall aim of the chemical study

Thinning of the Motor-Cingulate-Insular Cortices in Siblings Concordant for Tourette Syndrome

Fraternal twin studies on normal subjects have demonstrated low heritability (intra-class correlation coefficient) estimates for frontal brain regions (r=0.43). Here we aimed to investigate the relatedness/similarity estimates of the frontal brain regions in fraternal subjects concordant for Tourette syndrome (TS). We sought to identify regional brain similarities between siblings concordant for TS as an exploratory step towards the identification of potential brain structures involved in the TS phenotype. The identified brain structures may then serve in subsequent molecular genetic and linkage studies. In addition, we regressed cortical thickness and TS clinical severity scores to assess the relation between TS clinical symptoms and cortical structures. Sixteen sibling pairs concordant for TS were scanned using a 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging scanner (age range 10-25, mean 17.19±4.1). Brain morphology was assessed using the fully automated Civet pipeline at the Montreal Neurological Institute. TS was assessed using the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) and the Goetz Tic Scale. We report high relatedness/similarity estimates for fraternal siblings concordant for TS (r=0.86-0.60) in the middle frontal-motor/cingulate/insular cortices. Regression analysis revealed significant negative correlations in the right insula with the YGTSS (r=−0.41, F=6.09, P<0.02) and the left cingulated cortex with the (CY-BOCS) (r=−0.35, F=4.30, P<0.05). Since previous findings have concluded that normal fraternal siblings are less alike in frontal cortices, the present findings may be attributed to TS. We speculate that the high ICC between siblings and the negative correlation between TS symptoms severity and cortical thickness measurements are related to the disturbances in the maturation of the motor-cingulate-insular cortical neural system that mediate self-regulatory processes. Such delayed maturation may consequently contribute to the development of TS by releasing motor and vocal tics from regulatory control. These findings may have important genetic implication

State of Metropolitan America: On the Front Lines of Demographic Transformation

Examines 2000-09 demographic and economic trends and highlights five new realities: growth and outward expansion, population diversification, aging, uneven higher educational attainment, and income polarization. Analyzes national and regional challenges

Association of snRNA genes with coiled bodies is mediated by nascent snRNA transcripts

AbstractBackground: Coiled bodies are nuclear organelles that are highly enriched in small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) and certain basal transcription factors. Surprisingly, coiled bodies not only contain mature U snRNPs but also associate with specific chromosomal loci, including gene clusters that encode U snRNAs and histone messenger RNAs. The mechanism(s) by which coiled bodies associate with these genes is completely unknown.Results: Using stable cell lines, we show that artificial tandem arrays of human U1 and U2 snRNA genes colocalize with coiled bodies and that the frequency of the colocalization depends directly on the transcriptional activity of the array. Association of the genes with coiled bodies was abolished when the artificial U2 arrays contained promoter mutations that prevent transcription or when RNA polymerase II transcription was globally inhibited by α-amanitin. Remarkably, the association was also abolished when the U2 snRNA coding regions were replaced by heterologous sequences.Conclusions: The requirement for the U2 snRNA coding region indicates that association of snRNA genes with coiled bodies is mediated by the nascent U2 RNA itself, not by DNA or DNA-bound proteins. Our data provide the first evidence that association of genes with a nuclear organelle can be directed by an RNA and suggest an autogenous feedback regulation model

Quality of Digital Health Interventions Across Different Health Care Domains: Secondary Data Analysis Study

BackgroundThere are more than 350,000 digital health interventions (DHIs) in the app stores. To ensure that they are effective and safe to use, they should be assessed for compliance with best practice standards. ObjectiveThe objective of this paper was to examine and compare the compliance of DHIs with best practice standards and adherence to user experience (UX), professional and clinical assurance (PCA), and data privacy (DP). MethodsWe collected assessment data from 1574 DHIs using the Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps Baseline Review (OBR) assessment tool. As part of the assessment, each DHI received a score out of 100 for each of the abovementioned areas (ie, UX, PCA, and DP). These 3 OBR scores are combined to make up the overall ORCHA score (a proxy for quality). Inferential statistics, probability distributions, Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Cliff delta, and Dunn tests were used to conduct the data analysis. ResultsWe found that 57.3% (902/1574) of the DHIs had an Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA) score below the threshold of 65. The overall median OBR score (ORCHA score) for all DHIs was 61.5 (IQR 51.0-73.0) out of 100. A total of 46.2% (12/26) of DHI’s health care domains had a median equal to or above the ORCHA threshold score of 65. For the 3 assessment areas (UX, DP, and PCA), DHIs scored the highest for the UX assessment 75.2 (IQR 70.0-79.6), followed by DP 65.1 (IQR 55.0-73.4) and PCA 49.6 (IQR 31.9-76.1). UX scores had the least variance (SD 13.9), while PCA scores had the most (SD 24.8). Respiratory and urology DHIs were consistently highly ranked in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Evidence Standards Framework tiers B and C based on their ORCHA score. ConclusionsThere is a high level of variability in the ORCHA scores of DHIs across different health care domains. This suggests that there is an urgent need to improve compliance with best practices in some health care areas. Possible explanations for the observed differences might include varied market maturity and commercial interests within the different health care domains. More investment to support the development of higher-quality DHIs in areas such as ophthalmology, allergy, women’s health, sexual health, and dental care may be needed

Recommendations for myeloid-derived suppressor cell nomenclature and characterization standards

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have emerged as major regulators of immune responses in cancer and other pathological conditions. In recent years, ample evidence supports key contributions of MDSC to tumour progression through both immune-mediated mechanisms and those not directly associated with immune suppression. MDSC are the subject of intensive research with >500 papers published in 2015 alone. However, the phenotypic, morphological and functional heterogeneity of these cells generates confusion in investigation and analysis of their roles in inflammatory responses. The purpose of this communication is to suggest characterization standards in the burgeoning field of MDSC research