Anomalous relaxation kinetics of biological lattice-ligand binding models

We discuss theoretical models for the cooperative binding dynamics of ligands to substrates, such as dimeric motor proteins to microtubules or more extended macromolecules like tropomyosin to actin filaments. We study the effects of steric constraints, size of ligands, binding rates and interaction between neighboring proteins on the binding dynamics and binding stoichiometry. Starting from an empty lattice the binding dynamics goes, quite generally, through several stages. The first stage represents fast initial binding closely resembling the physics of random sequential adsorption processes. Typically this initial process leaves the system in a metastable locked state with many small gaps between blocks of bound molecules. In a second stage the gaps annihilate slowly as the ligands detach and reattach. This results in an algebraic decay of the gap concentration and interesting scaling behavior. Upon identifying the gaps with particles we show that the dynamics in this regime can be explained by mapping it onto various reaction-diffusion models. The final approach to equilibrium shows some interesting dynamic scaling properties. We also discuss the effect of cooperativity on the equilibrium stoichiometry, and their consequences for the interpretation of biochemical and image reconstruction results.Comment: REVTeX, 20 pages, 17 figures; review, to appear in Chemical Physics; v2: minor correction

Systematic review of measurement properties of questionnaires measuring somatization in primary care patients

Objective The aim of this review is to critically appraise the evidence on measurement properties of self-report questionnaires measuring somatization in adult primary care patients and to provide recommendations about which questionnaires are most useful for this purpose. Methods We assessed the methodological quality of included studies using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) checklist. To draw overall conclusions about the quality of the questionnaires, we conducted an evidence synthesis using predefined criteria for judging the measurement properties. Results We found 24 articles on 9 questionnaires. Studies on the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ) somatization subscale prevailed and covered the broadest range of measurement properties. These questionnaires had the best internal consistency, test-retest reliability, structural validity, and construct validity. The PHQ-15 also had good criterion validity, whereas the 4DSQ somatization subscale was validated in several languages. The Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS) checklist had good internal consistency and structural validity. Some evidence was found for good construct validity and criterion validity of the Physical Symptom Checklist (PSC-51) and good construct validity of the Symptom Check-List (SCL-90-R) somatization subscale. However, these three questionnaires were only studied in a small number of primary care studies. Conclusion Based on our findings, we recommend the use of either the PHQ-15 or 4DSQ somatization subscale for somatization in primary care. Other questionnaires, such as the BDS checklist, PSC-51 and the SCL-90-R somatization subscale show promising results but have not been studied extensively in primary care. © 2017 Elsevier Inc

Predictive value of PET response combined with baseline metabolic tumor volume in peripheral T-cell lymphoma patients

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas with poor outcomes on current therapy. We investigated whether response assessed with PET/CT combined with baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) could detect early relapse or refractory disease. Methods: From 7 European centers, 140 patients with nodal PTCL who underwent baseline PET/CT were selected. Forty-three had interim PET (iPET) performed after 2 cycles (iPET2), 95 had iPET performed after 3 or 4 cycles (iPET3/4), and 96 had end-of-treatment PET (eotPET). Baseline TMTV was computed with a 41% SUVmax threshold, and PET response was reported using the Deauville 5-point scale. Results: With a median of 43 mo of follow-up, the 2-y progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 51% and 67%, respectively. iPET2-positive patients (Deauville score ≥ 4) had a significantly worse outcome than iPET2-negative patients (P 230 cm3 and iPET3/4-negative [59%/84%]; TMTV ≤ 230 cm3 and iPET3/4-positive [42%/50%]; TMTV > 230 cm3 and iPET3/4-positive [0%/18%]). Conclusion: iPET response is predictive of outcome and allows early detection of high-risk PTCL patients. Combining iPET with TMTV improves risk stratification in individual patients

Parity Violation in Elastic Electron-Nucleon Scattering: Strangeness Content in the Nucleon

Parity violation in elastic electron-nucleon scattering is studied with the basic goal of improving the understanding of electroweak hadronic structure with special emphasis on the strangeness content in the nucleon. Models for the parity-violating (PV) asymmetry are provided and compared with the world data measured at very different kinematics. The effects introduced in the PV asymmetry due to alternative descriptions of the hadronic structure are analyzed in detail. In particular, a wide selection of prescriptions for dealing with the electromagnetic and neutral current weak interaction nucleon form factors, including the most recent ones used in the literature, is considered.Comment: 73 pages, 20 figures. To be published in Physics Report

Copying and Evolution of Neuronal Topology

We propose a mechanism for copying of neuronal networks that is of considerable interest for neuroscience for it suggests a neuronal basis for causal inference, function copying, and natural selection within the human brain. To date, no model of neuronal topology copying exists. We present three increasingly sophisticated mechanisms to demonstrate how topographic map formation coupled with Spike-Time Dependent Plasticity (STDP) can copy neuronal topology motifs. Fidelity is improved by error correction and activity-reverberation limitation. The high-fidelity topology-copying operator is used to evolve neuronal topologies. Possible roles for neuronal natural selection are discussed

The Physics of the B Factories

This work is on the Physics of the B Factories. Part A of this book contains a brief description of the SLAC and KEK B Factories as well as their detectors, BaBar and Belle, and data taking related issues. Part B discusses tools and methods used by the experiments in order to obtain results. The results themselves can be found in Part C

Le paléolithique supérieur récent du Trou Jadot à Comblain-au-Pont (Province de Liège, Belgique) et son paléoenvironnement

ABSTRACT Microfaunal, palynological, and sedimentological studies of the deposits from the Jadot Hole at Comblain-au Pont, in the Province of Liège, Belgium, have shed light upon an alternance of rigourous and temperate palaeoclimatic periods; the carbon 14 dating and the study of transparent heavy minerals permit placing them within the chronostra- tigraphy of the Weichselian, between the first Dryas and the end of the Allerød. This last temperate oscillation, represented by 5 stratigraphical layers, has been further subdivided into three chronological phases. The first of them, 14C dated at 11850 ± 160 BP (Lv-1411), contained a small Late Upper Palaeolithic débitage area.RESUME Les études microfauniques, polliniques et sédi- mentologiques des dépôts du Trou Jadot à Comblain-au-Pont, province de Liège, Belgique, ont mis en évidence une alternance de périodes paléoclimatiques rigoureuses et tempérées que les datations radiométriques et l'étude des minéraux mafiques transparents permettent de replacer dans la chronostratigraphie du Weichsélien, depuis le Dryas I jusqu'à la fin de l'Allerød. La dernière oscillation tempérée du Tardiglaciaire, représentée par 5 unités stratigraphiques, a en outre pu être subdivisée en trois phases. La première d'entre elles, datée au 14C de 11850 ± 160 BP (Lv-1411), a livré un petit amas de débitage du Paléolithique supérieur récent.Toussaint Michel, Becker Angelika. Le paléolithique supérieur récent du Trou Jadot à Comblain-au-Pont (Province de Liège, Belgique) et son paléoenvironnement. In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 89, n°1, 1992. pp. 12-18

Une sépulture du Michelsberg : Le trou de la Heid à Comblain-au-Pont (Province de Liège, Belgique)

ABSTRACT The sediments from layer 2 of the "trou de la Heid" at Comblain-au- Pont, in the province of Liège, Belgium, have revealed a burial including 24 teeth and poorly conserved human bones as well as rich archaeological finds. Palaeoanthropo- logical research provides evidence of the presence of two individuals, an adult and a child. Their bones have been 14C dated to 4650 ± 60 BP (Lv-1586), i.e. between 3380 and 3530 ВС after calibration to one standard deviation. The archaeological materiel is largely composed of scrapers, arrowheads, borers and awls, retouched blades, potsherds including fragments of a bottle which possessed a horizontal row of tube lugs, boar's canines as well as a perforated boar tooth and perforated shells. The whole is characteristic of Michelsberg and supplies irrefutableRÉSUMÉ Les sédiments de la couche 2 du trou de la Heid à Comblain-au-Pont ont livré un dépôt funéraire comprenant 24 dents et ossements humains mal conservés et un riche mobilier archéologique. L'étude anthropologique témoigne de la présence de deux individus, un adulte et un enfant. Leurs ossements ont été datés au 14C de 4650 + 60 BP (Lv-1586), soit entre 3380 et 3530 ВС après calibration à un sigma. Le matériel archéologique se compose essentiellement de grattoirs, de pointes de flèches, de per- çoirs, de racloirs, de lames retouchées, de tessons de poterie dont des fragments d'une bouteille à mamelons perforés horizontalement, de canines de sangliers naturelles et aménagées ainsi que d'une dent de suidé et de coquilles perforées. L'ensemble est tout à fait caractéristique du Michelsberg et apporte la preuve irréfutable de l'utilisation de sépultures en abris naturels en Wallonie dès le Néolithique moyen. Deux documents campaniformes ont en outre été découverts dans la même couche stratigraphique.Toussaint Michel, Becker Angelika. Une sépulture du Michelsberg : Le trou de la Heid à Comblain-au-Pont (Province de Liège, Belgique). In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française, tome 91, n°1, 1994. pp. 77-84