Multi-Line Geometry of Qubit-Qutrit and Higher-Order Pauli Operators

The commutation relations of the generalized Pauli operators of a qubit-qutrit system are discussed in the newly established graph-theoretic and finite-geometrical settings. The dual of the Pauli graph of this system is found to be isomorphic to the projective line over the product ring Z2xZ3. A "peculiar" feature in comparison with two-qubits is that two distinct points/operators can be joined by more than one line. The multi-line property is shown to be also present in the graphs/geometries characterizing two-qutrit and three-qubit Pauli operators' space and surmised to be exhibited by any other higher-level quantum system.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures. International Journal of Theoretical Physics (2007) accept\'

Gain-of-function human STAT1 mutations impair IL-17 immunity and underlie chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis disease (CMCD) may be caused by autosomal dominant (AD) IL-17F deficiency or autosomal recessive (AR) IL-17RA deficiency. Here, using whole-exome sequencing, we identified heterozygous germline mutations in STAT1 in 47 patients from 20 kindreds with AD CMCD. Previously described heterozygous STAT1 mutant alleles are loss-of-function and cause AD predisposition to mycobacterial disease caused by impaired STAT1-dependent cellular responses to IFN-γ. Other loss-of-function STAT1 alleles cause AR predisposition to intracellular bacterial and viral diseases, caused by impaired STAT1-dependent responses to IFN-α/β, IFN-γ, IFN-λ, and IL-27. In contrast, the 12 AD CMCD-inducing STAT1 mutant alleles described here are gain-of-function and increase STAT1-dependent cellular responses to these cytokines, and to cytokines that predominantly activate STAT3, such as IL-6 and IL-21. All of these mutations affect the coiled-coil domain and impair the nuclear dephosphorylation of activated STAT1, accounting for their gain-of-function and dominance. Stronger cellular responses to the STAT1-dependent IL-17 inhibitors IFN-α/β, IFN-γ, and IL-27, and stronger STAT1 activation in response to the STAT3-dependent IL-17 inducers IL-6 and IL-21, hinder the development of T cells producing IL-17A, IL-17F, and IL-22. Gain-of-function STAT1 alleles therefore cause AD CMCD by impairing IL-17 immunity

Fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin with gemtuzumab ozogamicin improves event-free survival in younger patients with newly diagnosed aml and overall survival in patients with npm1 and flt3 mutations

Purpose To determine the optimal induction chemotherapy regimen for younger adults with newly diagnosed AML without known adverse risk cytogenetics. Patients and Methods One thousand thirty-three patients were randomly assigned to intensified (fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and idarubicin [FLAG-Ida]) or standard (daunorubicin and Ara-C [DA]) induction chemotherapy, with one or two doses of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The primary end point was overall survival (OS). Results There was no difference in remission rate after two courses between FLAG-Ida + GO and DA + GO (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery 93% v 91%) or in day 60 mortality (4.3% v 4.6%). There was no difference in OS (66% v 63%; P = .41); however, the risk of relapse was lower with FLAG-Ida + GO (24% v 41%; P < .001) and 3-year event-free survival was higher (57% v 45%; P < .001). In patients with an NPM1 mutation (30%), 3-year OS was significantly higher with FLAG-Ida + GO (82% v 64%; P = .005). NPM1 measurable residual disease (MRD) clearance was also greater, with 88% versus 77% becoming MRD-negative in peripheral blood after cycle 2 (P = .02). Three-year OS was also higher in patients with a FLT3 mutation (64% v 54%; P = .047). Fewer transplants were performed in patients receiving FLAG-Ida + GO (238 v 278; P = .02). There was no difference in outcome according to the number of GO doses, although NPM1 MRD clearance was higher with two doses in the DA arm. Patients with core binding factor AML treated with DA and one dose of GO had a 3-year OS of 96% with no survival benefit from FLAG-Ida + GO. Conclusion Overall, FLAG-Ida + GO significantly reduced relapse without improving OS. However, exploratory analyses show that patients with NPM1 and FLT3 mutations had substantial improvements in OS. By contrast, in patients with core binding factor AML, outcomes were excellent with DA + GO with no FLAG-Ida benefit

Antigenicity of the norovirus capsid

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Context matters : women's experiences of depression and of seeking professional help : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Most existing research on women and depression takes a realist approach that effectively silences the voices of women and limits our understandings of depression. By engaging with the stories of seven women, recruited from a provincial New Zealand area, this research privileges women's voices. Taking a discourse analytic approach, this research explores how women construct their experiences of depression and of seeking professional help. I take a micro discursive approach in identifying how the women utilise various discursive resources in constructing their accounts of both depression and of seeking professional help. In order to locate these discursive resources within the broader socio-cultural environment, I employ a macro discursive approach drawing on Foucauldian discourse analysis and Davies and Harré’s Positioning Theory. Participant’s accounts of their depressive experiences change over the course of their journeys. I explore how the women's accounts shift from a contextualised explanatory framework that locates their experiences of depression within the gendered context of their lives, to a medicalised explanatory framework as they enter the professional help arena. This research offers insights into how dominant discursive construction of the ‘good’ woman/mother dovetail with a biomedical explanation of depression and prevailing discursive constructions around anti-depressant medications. Working together, these discourses effectively silence women's voices, both pathologising and decontextualising women's depressive experiences. Furthermore, I suggest that these dominant discursive resources and practices offer limited ways for women to make sense of their experiences in meaningful and empowering ways. A need for new understandings about women and depression is called for - one grounded in the material-discursive realities of women’s gendered lives

Antigenicity of the norovirus capsid

The purpose of this study was to produce monoclonal antibodies against prevalent genogroup I (GI) and genogroup II (GII) noroviruses.  Monoclonal antibody CM45 was raised to the Leeds capsid protein (GIId) and cross-reacted with GIIb, GIIc and GIId noroviruses.  Monoclonal antibody CM55 was raised to the Toronto virus capsid protein (GIIa) and was specific for GIIa noroviruses.  These monoclonal antibodies were incorporated into Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) for the detection of GII noroviruses in clinical specimens and in the future will be used in epidemiological studies. Monoclonal antibody CM54 was raised to the Southampton virus (SV) capsid protein (GIa) and cross-reacted with GI capsid proteins.  To characterise the monoclonal antibody binding site a series of truncated forms of the SV capsid protein were expressed as fusions to GST in E. coli.   Immunoblot analysis indicated the monoclonal antibody binding site was located between amino acid residues 102-255 of the SV capsid protein.  The epitope recognised by monoclonal antibody CM54 was mapped using a peptide array.  Monoclonal antibody CM54 bound to the sequence LEDVRN.  Alignment of norovirus capsid protein sequences illustrated the epitope (LEDVRN) was common to GI capsid proteins, but not present in GII capsid proteins.  Interestingly this epitope was also present in GIIIb capsid protein sequences.  Monoclonal antibody CM54 reacted by ELISA and immunoblot to NA-2 (GIIIb) VLPs.  The epitope recognised by monoclonal antibody CM39 was also deduced.  Monoclonal antibody CM39 reacts to Jena virus (JV), a bovine norovirus (GIIIa).  Monoclonal antibody CM39 bound to the pentapeptide sequence PTAGA, which is common to the genogroup III (GIII) noroviruses.  Interestingly, both of these epitopes are present in the shell domain of the capsid protein.  This work described the precise molecular recognition sequence of two monoclonal antibodies and the binding sites were mapped on the published three dimensional structure of the norovirus capsid protein.</p

Investigando a través de las culturas: Cuestiones de ética y poder

Kulturelle Unterschiede manifestieren sich in allen Beziehungen, Forschungsbeziehungen eingeschlossen. Akademische Forschung wird über verschiedene Kulturen hinweg durchgeführt, die nicht durch ethnische Grenzen beschrieben werden können. Welche Dimensionen müssen akademische Forscher und Forscherinnen besonders berücksichtigen, wenn sie interkulturelle Projekte konzipieren und umsetzen? Eine Durchsicht der relevanten Literatur zeigt, dass ethische Fragen immer schon mit Machtaspekten in der Forschungsbeziehung verbunden sind: Zustimmung, der Prozess des Forschens, Forschungsdesign, Dateneigentum und Datennutzung ergeben sich in der Folge als wichtige Dimension zum Verstehen von Ethik und Macht. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0403396Cultural diversity manifests in all rela­tionships, including research relationships. Aca­dem­ic investigators work across a broad range of cultures that goes beyond ethnicity. What implica­tions are most important for academic researchers to consider when designing and implementing a project? A review of relevant literature suggests that ethical implications begin with the power aspects in the research relationship. Consent, research processes, research design, data owner­ship, and uses of data are also salient issues that arise. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0403396La diversidad cultural se manifiesta en todas las relaciones, incluyendo las relaciones de investigación. Los investigadores académicos trabajan sobre una amplia gama de culturas que va más allá de la identidad étnica. ¿Cuáles son las implicaciones más importantes que los investigadores académicos deben considerar cuando diseñan y desarrollan un proyecto? Una revisión de literatura relevante sugiere que las implicaciones éticas comienzan con aspectos de poder en las relaciones de investigación. El consentimiento, los procesos de investigación, el diseño de investigación, la propiedad de los datos sus usos son también asuntos relevantes a tratar. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs040339

Researching Across Cultures: Issues of Ethics and Power

Kulturelle Unterschiede manifestieren sich in allen Beziehungen, Forschungsbeziehungen eingeschlossen. Akademische Forschung wird über verschiedene Kulturen hinweg durchgeführt, die nicht durch ethnische Grenzen beschrieben werden können. Welche Dimensionen müssen akademische Forscher und Forscherinnen besonders berücksichtigen, wenn sie interkulturelle Projekte konzipieren und umsetzen? Eine Durchsicht der relevanten Literatur zeigt, dass ethische Fragen immer schon mit Machtaspekten in der Forschungsbeziehung verbunden sind: Zustimmung, der Prozess des Forschens, Forschungsdesign, Dateneigentum und Datennutzung ergeben sich in der Folge als wichtige Dimension zum Verstehen von Ethik und Macht.Cultural diversity manifests in all rela­tionships, including research relationships. Aca­dem­ic investigators work across a broad range of cultures that goes beyond ethnicity. What implica­tions are most important for academic researchers to consider when designing and implementing a project? A review of relevant literature suggests that ethical implications begin with the power aspects in the research relationship. Consent, research processes, research design, data owner­ship, and uses of data are also salient issues that arise.La diversidad cultural se manifiesta en todas las relaciones, incluyendo las relaciones de investigación. Los investigadores académicos trabajan sobre una amplia gama de culturas que va más allá de la identidad étnica. ¿Cuáles son las implicaciones más importantes que los investigadores académicos deben considerar cuando diseñan y desarrollan un proyecto? Una revisión de literatura relevante sugiere que las implicaciones éticas comienzan con aspectos de poder en las relaciones de investigación. El consentimiento, los procesos de investigación, el diseño de investigación, la propiedad de los datos sus usos son también asuntos relevantes a tratar

Researching Across Cultures: Issues of Ethics and Power

Cultural diversity manifests in all rela­tionships, including research relationships. Aca­dem­ic investigators work across a broad range of cultures that goes beyond ethnicity. What implica­tions are most important for academic researchers to consider when designing and implementing a project? A review of relevant literature suggests that ethical implications begin with the power aspects in the research relationship. Consent, research processes, research design, data owner­ship, and uses of data are also salient issues that arise. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs040339