2,189 research outputs found
Mixing-induced Spontaneous Supersymmetry Breaking
It is conjectured that flavor mixing furnishes a universal mechanism for the
spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry. The conjecture is proved explicitly for
the mixing of two Wess--Zumino supermultiplets and arguments
for its general validity are given. The mechanism relies on the fact that,
despite mixing treats fermions and bosons symmetrically, both the fermionic and
the bosonic zero point energies are shifted by a positive amount and this kind
of shift does not respect supersymmetry.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, Eq(12) of V1 corrected to Eq(22), explicit
off-shell formulation included, one reference adde
Fine-root morphological and growth traits in a Turkey-oak stand in relation to seasonal changes in soil moisture in the Southern Apennines, Italy
We investigated the effects of seasonal changes
in soil moisture on the morphological and growth traits
of fine roots (<2 mm in diameter) in a mature Turkeyoak
stand (Quercus cerris L.) in the Southern Apennines
of Italy. Root samples (diameter: <0.5, 0.5\u20131.0, 1.0\u20131.5,
and 1.5\u20132.0 mm) were collected with the Auger method.
Mean annual fine-root mass and length on site was
443 g m!2 (oak fine roots 321 g m!2; other species
122 g m!2) and 3.18 km m!2 (oak fine roots 1.14 km
m!2; other species 2.04 km m!2), respectively. Mean
specific root length was 8.3 m g!1. All fine-root traits
displayed a complex pattern that was significantly related
to season. In the four diameter classes, both fineroot
biomass and length peaked in summer when soil
water content was the lowest and air temperature the
highest of the season. Moreover, both fine-root biomass
and length were inversely related with soil moisture
(p < 0.001). The finest roots (<0.5 mm in diameter)
constituted an important fraction of total fine-root
length (79 %), but only 21 % of biomass. Only in this
root class, consequent to change in mean diameter,
specific root length peaked when soil water content was
lowest showing an inverse relationship (p < 0.001).
Furthermore, fine-root production and turnover decreased
with increasing root diameter. These results
suggest that changes in root length per unit mass, and
pulses in root growth to exploit transient periods of low
soil water content may enable trees to increase nutrient
and water uptake under seasonal drought conditions
Kidney Disease in HIV Infection
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved life expectancy of infected subjects, generating a new epidemiological setting of people aging withHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). People living with HIV (PLWH), having longer life expectancy, now face several age-related conditions as well as side effects of long-term exposure of ART. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common comorbidity in this population. CKD is a relentlessly progressive disease that may evolve toward end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and significantly affect quality of life and risk of death. Herein, we review current understanding of renal involvement in PLWH, mechanisms and risk factors for CKD as well as strategies for early recognition of renal dysfunction and best care of CKD
Memoria escrita de las lenguas en Misiones: Un análisis discursivo. 16H297
Reuniones mensuales de discusión de lecturas y procesos conceptuales. Agenda de las reuniones: a) Puesta en balance de las tramas conjeturales en torno del objeto
Memoria–Lenguas–Escritura; b) Intensificación del trabajo con la instancia enunciativa (AutorÃa), las modalidades genéricas y estrategias del gesto memorioso; c) Ponderación de la configuración del archivo en base al acervo documental encontrado hasta el momento; d) Vinculación del proyecto con el proceso de cursado de la MaestrÃa
en Semiótica Discursiva del Lic. Di Iorio
The association of acute aortic dissection with Helicobacter pylori virulence specific serotypes: Distinct diversity of systemic antibodies to CagA and VacA genotypes.
A novel integrated industrial approach with cobots in the age of industry 4.0 through conversational interaction and computer vision
From robots that replace workers to robots that serve as helpful colleagues, the field of robotic automation is experiencing a new trend that represents a huge challenge for component manufacturers. The contribution starts from an innovative vision that sees an ever closer collaboration between Cobot, able to do a specific physical job with precision, the AI world, able to analyze information and support the decision-making process, and the man able to have a strategic vision of the future
Predictive Value ofMeasures of Vascular Calcification Burden and Progression for Risk of Death in Incident to Dialysis Patients
Abstract: Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is a marker of cardiovascular (CV) disease
and various methods allow for presence and extension assessment in different arterial districts.
Nevertheless, it is currently unclear which one of these methods for VC evaluation best predict
outcome and if this piece of information adds to the predictive value of traditional CV risk factors
in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Methods: data of 184 of the 466 patients followed in the
Independent study (NCT00710788) were post hoc examined to assess the association three concurrent
measures of vascular calcification and all-cause survival. Specifically, coronary artery calcification
(CAC) was determined by the Agatston and the volume score while abdominal aorta calcification was
determined by plain X-ray of the lumbar spine (Kauppila score (KS)). Survival and regression models
as well as metrics of risk recalculation were used to test the association of VC and outcome beyond the
Framingham risk score. Results: Middle-age (62.6(15.8) years) men (51%) and women (49%) starting
HD were analyzed. Over 36 (median 36; interquartile range: 8–36) months of follow-up 69 patients
expired. Each measure of VC (CAC or KS) predicted all-cause mortality independently factors
commonly associated with all-cause survival (p < 0.001). Far more importantly, each measurement of
VC significantly improved risk prediction and patient reclassification (p < 0.001) beyond traditional
cardiovascular risk factors. Conclusions: Overall, presence and extension of VC, irrespective of the
arterial site, predict risk of all-cause of death in patients starting hemodialysis. Of note, both CAC
and KS increase risk stratification beyond traditional CV risk factors. However, future efforts are
needed to assess whether a risk-based approach encompassing VC screening to guide HD patient
management improves survival
Digenic mutational inheritance of the integrin alpha 7 and the myosin heavy chain 7B genes causes congenital myopathy with left ventricular non-compact cardiomyopathy
BACKGROUND: We report an Italian family in which the proband showed a severe phenotype characterized by the association of congenital fiber type disproportion (CFTD) with a left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC). This study was focused on the identification of the responsible gene/s. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using the whole-exome sequencing approach, we identified the proband homozygous missense mutations in two genes, the myosin heavy chain 7B (MYH7B) and the integrin alpha 7 (ITGA7). Both genes are expressed in heart and muscle tissues, and both mutations were predicted to be deleterious and were not found in the healthy population. The R890C mutation in the MYH7B gene segregated with the LVNC phenotype in the examined family. It was also found in one unrelated patient affected by LVNC, confirming a causative role in cardiomyopathy. The E882K mutation in the ITGA7 gene, a key component of the basal lamina of muscle fibers, was found only in the proband, suggesting a role in CFTD. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies two novel disease genes. Mutation in MYH7B causes a classical LVNC phenotype, whereas mutation in ITGA7 causes CFTD. Both phenotypes represent alterations of skeletal and cardiac muscle maturation and are usually not severe. The severe phenotype of the proband is most likely due to a synergic effect of these two mutations. This study provides new insights into the genetics underlying Mendelian traits and demonstrates a role for digenic inheritance in complex phenotypes
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