A geometrical approach to super W-induced gravities in two dimensions

A geometrical study of supergravity defined on (1|1) complex superspace is presented. This approach is based on the introduction of generalized superprojective structures extending the notions of super Riemann geometry to a kind of super W-Riemann surfaces. On these surfaces a connection is constructed. The zero curvature condition leads to the super Ward identities of the underlying supergravity. This is accomplished through the symplectic form linked to the (super)symplectic manifold of all super gauge connections. The BRST algebra is also derived from the knowledge of the super W-symmetries which are the gauge transformations of the vector bundle canonically associated to the generalized superprojective structures. We obtain the possible consistent BRST (super)anomalies and their cocycles related by the descent equations. Finally we apply our considerations to the case of supergravity.Comment: 29 pages, latex, no figures, to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Effects of Electrode Configuration and Place of Stimulation on Speech Perception with Cochlear Prostheses

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42437/1/10162-2-2-87_10020087.pd

Multifocal multi-organ ischaemia and infarction in a preterm baby due to maternal intravenous cocaine use: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Although the adverse effects of cocaine use in pregnancy are well recognised, we believe this case highlights the importance of considering the route of administration, and suggests the possibility of multifocal damage relating to intravenous use.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A Caucasian female baby of 29-weeks' gestation was spontaneously delivered and subsequently developed multi-organ failure considered unrelated to simple prematurity. Intensive care was re-orientated following the development of massive intraventricular haemorrhage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case illustrates the need for regular cranial ultrasound in babies of pregnancies at risk due to intravenous cocaine use and also the necessity of counselling women who misuse cocaine in the antenatal period. As such, this article will be of most interest to paediatric and obstetric staff.</p

Ideal-Typical Utility Infrastructure at Chemical Sites - Definition, Operation and Defossilization

The defossilization of the electricity and heat supply in the chemical industry poses a significant challenge. In particular,the intended feed-in of volatile renewable electricity into the chemical processes may conflict with the need for a constant,secure and affordable electricity and heat supply for chemical plants. Adapted concepts for the operation of the cogenera-tion plant, which is located at the chemical site, play a central role. The present work defines a so-called ideal-typical utilityinfrastructure (iUI). The iUI is a means to exemplarily investigate the operational behavior of utility infrastructures andfurthermore to identify defossilization options for process steam and electricity supply at chemical sites

Dynamic evolution of megasatellites in yeasts

Megasatellites are a new family of long tandem repeats, recently discovered in the yeast Candida glabrata. Compared to shorter tandem repeats, such as minisatellites, megasatellite motifs range in size from 135 to more than 300 bp, and allow calculation of evolutionary distances between individual motifs. Using divergence based on nucleotide substitutions among similar motifs, we determined the smallest distance between two motifs, allowing their subsequent clustering. Motifs belonging to the same cluster are recurrently found in different megasatellites located on different chromosomes, showing transfer of genetic information between megasatellites. In comparison, evolution of the few similar tandem repeats in Saccharomyces cerevisiae FLO genes mainly involves subtelomeric homologous recombination. We estimated selective constraints acting on megasatellite motifs and their host genes, and found that motifs are under strong purifying selection. Surprisingly, motifs inserted within pseudogenes are also under purifying selection, whereas the pseudogenes themselves evolve neutrally. We propose that megasatellite motifs propagate by a combination of three different molecular mechanisms: (i) gene duplication, (ii) ectopic homologous recombination and (iii) transfer of motifs from one megasatellite to another one. These mechanisms actively cooperate to create new megasatellites, that may play an important role in the adaptation of Candida glabrata to its human host

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Evades NKG2D-Dependent NK Cell Responses through NS5A-Mediated Imbalance of Inflammatory Cytokines

Understanding how hepatitis C virus (HCV) induces and circumvents the host's natural killer (NK) cell-mediated immunity is of critical importance in efforts to design effective therapeutics. We report here the decreased expression of the NKG2D activating receptor as a novel strategy adopted by HCV to evade NK-cell mediated responses. We show that chronic HCV infection is associated with expression of ligands for NKG2D, the MHC class I-related Chain (MIC) molecules, on hepatocytes. However, NKG2D expression is downmodulated on circulating NK cells, and consequently NK cell-mediated cytotoxic capacity and interferon-γ production are impaired. Using an endotoxin-free recombinant NS5A protein, we show that NS5A stimulation of monocytes through Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) promotes p38- and PI3 kinase-dependent IL-10 production, while inhibiting IL-12 production. In turn, IL-10 triggers secretion of TGFβ which downmodulates NKG2D expression on NK cells, leading to their impaired effector functions. Moreover, culture supernatants of HCV JFH1 replicating Huh-7.5.1 cells reproduce the effect of recombinant NS5A on NKG2D downmodulation. Exogenous IL-15 can antagonize the TGFβ effect and restore normal NKG2D expression on NK cells. We conclude that NKG2D-dependent NK cell functions are modulated during chronic HCV infection, and demonstrate that this alteration can be prevented by exogenous IL-15, which could represent a meaningful adjuvant for therapeutic intervention

The Cell Adhesion Molecule “CAR” and Sialic Acid on Human Erythrocytes Influence Adenovirus In Vivo Biodistribution

Although it has been known for 50 years that adenoviruses (Ads) interact with erythrocytes ex vivo, the molecular and structural basis for this interaction, which has been serendipitously exploited for diagnostic tests, is unknown. In this study, we characterized the interaction between erythrocytes and unrelated Ad serotypes, human 5 (HAd5) and 37 (HAd37), and canine 2 (CAV-2). While these serotypes agglutinate human erythrocytes, they use different receptors, have different tropisms and/or infect different species. Using molecular, biochemical, structural and transgenic animal-based analyses, we found that the primary erythrocyte interaction domain for HAd37 is its sialic acid binding site, while CAV-2 binding depends on at least three factors: electrostatic interactions, sialic acid binding and, unexpectedly, binding to the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) on human erythrocytes. We show that the presence of CAR on erythrocytes leads to prolonged in vivo blood half-life and significantly reduced liver infection when a CAR-tropic Ad is injected intravenously. This study provides i) a molecular and structural rationale for Ad–erythrocyte interactions, ii) a basis to improve vector-mediated gene transfer and iii) a mechanism that may explain the biodistribution and pathogenic inconsistencies found between human and animal models

A worldwide survey on incidence, management and prognosis of oesophageal fistula formation following atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: The POTTER-AF study.

AIMS Oesophageal fistula represents a rare but dreadful complication of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. Data on its incidence, management and outcome are sparse. METHODS AND RESULTS This international multicenter registry investigates the characteristics of oesophageal fistulae after treatment of atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation. A total of 553,729 catheter ablation procedures (radiofrequency: 62.9%, cryoballoon: 36.2%, other modalities: 0.9%) were performed at 214 centers in 35 countries. In 78 centers 138 patients (0.025%, radiofrequency: 0.038%, cryoballoon: 0.0015% (p<0.0001)) were diagnosed with an oesophageal fistula. Periprocedural data were available for 118 patients (85.5%). Following catheter ablation, the median time to symptoms and the median time to diagnosis were 18 (7.75, 25; range: 0-60) days and 21 (15, 29.5; range: 2-63) days, respectively. The median time from symptom onset to oesophageal fistula diagnosis was 3 (1, 9; range: 0-42) days. The most common initial symptom was fever (59.3%). The diagnosis was established by chest computed tomography in 80.2% of patients. Oesophageal surgery was performed in 47.4% and direct endoscopic treatment in 19.8%, and conservative treatment in 32.8% of patients. The overall mortality was 65.8%. Mortality following surgical (51.9%) or endoscopic treatment (56.5%) was significantly lower as compared to conservative management (89.5%) (odds ratio 7.463 (2.414, 23.072) p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Oesophageal fistula after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is rare and occurs mostly with the use of radiofrequency energy rather than cryoenergy. Mortality without surgical or endoscopic intervention is exceedingly high