Boundary conditions in the Unruh problem

We have analyzed the Unruh problem in the frame of quantum field theory and have shown that the Unruh quantization scheme is valid in the double Rindler wedge rather than in Minkowski spacetime. The double Rindler wedge is composed of two disjoint regions ($R$- and $L$-wedges of Minkowski spacetime) which are causally separated from each other. Moreover the Unruh construction implies existence of boundary condition at the common edge of $R$- and $L$-wedges in Minkowski spacetime. Such boundary condition may be interpreted as a topological obstacle which gives rise to a superselection rule prohibiting any correlations between $r$- and $l$- Unruh particles. Thus the part of the field from the $L$-wedge in no way can influence a Rindler observer living in the $R$-wedge and therefore elimination of the invisible "left" degrees of freedom will take no effect for him. Hence averaging over states of the field in one wedge can not lead to thermalization of the state in the other. This result is proved both in the standard and algebraic formulations of quantum field theory and we conclude that principles of quantum field theory does not give any grounds for existence of the "Unruh effect".Comment: 31 pages,1 figur

High Value Correlates of Caregiver Reported Counseling Service Need and Utilization for Adolescents At-Risk for Childhood Maltreatment and Neglect

Adolescents with a history of child maltreatment experience increased risk for psychopathology that sets them on a trajectory towards a range of difficulties in adulthood. Various factors influence caregivers’ decisions to seek mental health services (MHS) that could improve developmental outcomes. The present study applied a machine learning algorithm, elastic net, to a sample of 878 adolescent-caregiver dyads from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. Analyses simultaneously examined a large number of factors to determine their ability to discriminate between caregivers who perceived a need for MHS and those who did not, as well as caregivers who utilized MHS and those who did not. Results highlight family demographics, chronic parental stressors, youth psychopathology, and exposure to recent adversities as good classifiers of caregiver perceived need for (77.6%; sensitivity = .77; specificity = .78) and utilization of (71%; sensitivity = .71; specificity = .71) adolescent MHS. Elastic net identified adolescent clinical externalizing and internalizing problems, and parental stress related to child(ren)’s behavior as high value classifiers of both outcomes. Youth living with non-kin caregivers were also significantly more likely to utilize MHS. Findings highlight the importance of assessing clinical need, stress related to child(ren)’s behavior, and caregiver kinship in understanding the likelihood that at-risk families will seek adolescent MHS

Prostate cancer-associated autoantibodies in serum against tumor-associated antigens as potential new biomarkers

The limitations of the current prostate cancer (PCa) screening tests demands new biomarkers for early diagnosis of PCa. In this study, we aim to investigate serum autoantibody signatures as PCa specific biomarkers. PCa proteins were resolved by 2-DE and then transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane, which were subsequently incubated with either pooled serum from PCa patients or from normal controls. Mass spectrometry results have identified 18 antigens from 21 different 2-DE spots associated with PCa. Autoantibody response to antigens PRDX2, PRDX6 and ANXA11 in PCa patient's sera was confirmed using recombinant antigens. Further validation with an independent set of PCa patient's sera have shown relatively increased abundance of PRDX6 and ANXA11 antibodies in PCa patients. Formal concept analysis method was applied to assess whether the abundance of these autoantibodies could influence the classification of patients. However, sensitivity of the single antibody to discriminate prostate tumor and healthy controls varies from 70% to 80%, whereas combination of both PRDX6 and ANXA11 antibodies increased sensitivity to 90% for tumors and 100% for healthy controls. Therefore, we hereby report that the detection of these antibodies in PCa patient's serum in combination with the existing non-invasive diagnostic procedures may have significance in PCa diagnosis. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present study aimed to investigate serum autoantibody signatures as new biomarkers for early diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). To investigate serum autoantibodies in patients with PCa, we used proteomics approach based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry. Total tissue proteins extracted from prostate were separated by 2-DE and then transferred onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membrane, which were subsequently incubated with either pooled serum from PCa patients or from normal controls with no history for PCa. Proteomic analysis results have identified 18 antigens that showed antibody response specifically to cancer patient's serum. For validation experiments using recombinant antigens, confirmed autoantibody response to three antigens PRDX2, PRDX6 and ANXA11. Further validation using a second independent set of PCa patient's sera has shown relatively increased abundance of PRDX6 and ANXA11 antibodies specifically in PCa patients. Partition analysis of patients based on abundance of autoantibodies highlighted a combination of both PRDX6 and ANXA11 antibodies in serum with 90% sensitivity in case of tumors and 100% in case of healthy controls. Therefore, we hereby report that the detection of these antibodies in PCa patient's serum in combination with known markers may have significance in diagnosis of PCa with further validation in larger cohort of samples

Proteome analysis of the effects of all-trans retinoic acid on human germ cell tumor cell lines

We analysed the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on proliferation and changes in the global proteome of the nullipotent human embryonal carcinoma cell line 2102Ep and the pluripotent cell line NTERA2 cl.D1 (NT2). Differentially expressed proteins were assessed by 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry, followed by verification and analysis of protein modifications of proteins of the retinoid pathway. We established a proteome map of the germ cell tumor (GCT) cell line NT2 showing neuronal differentiation under ATRA treatment for 7days. Using bioinformatic analyses, we identified functional groups of altered proteins and potentially involved pathways, of which changes to the organization of the cytoskeleton and anti-apoptotic effects were the most prominent. Changes observed in the expression of factors involved in the retinoid pathway under ATRA, namely an upregulation of CRBP and CRABP2, were also reflected in GCT tissues of different histologies, providing further insight into factors involved in the differentiation of these pluripotent tumors. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Treatment of NT2 germ cell tumor cells with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a model to investigate differentiation. We analysed differentially expressed proteins by 2D-PAGE and mass spectrometry and provide a proteome map of NT2 cells under 7days of ATRA. By bioinformatic analyses, functional groups of proteins and involved pathways like changes to the cytoskeleton and anti-apoptotic effects were identified. Factors involved in the retinoid pathway, in particular upregulation of CRBP, CRABP1 and CRABP2, also showed differential expression in tumors with different histological subtypes, which provides insight into gene regulation under induced and spontaneous differentiation in germ cell tumors

Peroxiredoxins 3 and 4 are overexpressed in prostate cancer tissue and affect the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro

The present study aimed to investigate the proteome profiling of surgically treated prostate cancers. Hereto, 2D-DIGE and mass spectrometry were performed for protein identification, and data validation for peroxiredoxin 3 and 4 (PRDX3 and PRDX4) was accomplished by reverse phase protein arrays (RPPA). The Formal Concept Analysis (FCA) method was applied to assess whether the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion could influence the degree of overexpression of PRDX3 and PRDX4 in prostate cancer. Lastly, we performed an in vitro functional characterization of both PRDX3 and PRDX4 using the classical human prostate cancer cell lines DU145 and LNCaP. Reverse phase protein arrays verified that the overexpression of both PRDX3 and PRDX4 in tumor samples is negatively correlated with the presence of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion. Functional characterization of PRDX3 and PRDX4 activity in PCa cell lines suggests a role of these members of the peroxiredoxin family in the pathophysiology of this tumor entit