Generalized Conformal Quantum Mechanics of D0-brane

We study the generalized conformal quantum mechanics of the probe D0-brane in the near horizon background of the bound state of source D0-branes. We elaborate on the relationship of such model to the M theory in the light cone frame.Comment: 14 pages, RevTeX, revised version with added references to appear in Phys. Rev.

Non-extremal D-instantons

We construct the most general non-extremal deformation of the D-instanton solution with maximal rotational symmetry. The general non-supersymmetric solution carries electric charges of the SL(2,R) symmetry, which correspond to each of the three conjugacy classes of SL(2,R). Our calculations naturally generalise to arbitrary dimensions and arbitrary dilaton couplings. We show that for specific values of the dilaton coupling parameter, the non-extremal instanton solutions can be viewed as wormholes of non-extremal Reissner-Nordstr\"om black holes in one higher dimension. We extend this result by showing that for other values of the dilaton coupling parameter, the non-extremal instanton solutions can be uplifted to non-extremal non-dilatonic p-branes in p+1 dimensions higher. Finally, we attempt to consider the solutions as instantons of (compactified) type IIB superstring theory. In particular, we derive an elegant formula for the instanton action. We conjecture that the non-extremal D-instantons can contribute to the R^8-terms in the type IIB string effective action.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures. v3: minor correction and reference adde

An outbreak of ST307 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a rehabilitation center: An unusual source and route of transmission

Objective: Nosocomial outbreaks due to multidrug-resistant microorganisms in rehabilitation centers have rarely been reported. We report an outbreak of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-K. pneumoniae) on a single ward in a rehabilitation center in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.Design: Outbreak description.Setting: A 40-bed ward of a rehabilitation center in the Netherlands.Methods: In October 2016, 2 patients were found to be colonized by genetically indistinguishable ESBL-K. pneumoniae isolates. Therefore, an outbreak management team was installed, by whom a contact tracing plan was made. In addition to general outbreak measures, specific measures were formulated to allow continuation of the rehabilitation process. Also, environmental cultures were taken. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis and amplification fragment-length polymorphism were used to determine strain relatedness. Selected isolates were subjected to whole-genome multilocus sequence typing.Results: The outbreak lasted 8 weeks. In total, 14 patients were colonized with an ESBL-K. pneumoniae, of whom 11 patients had an isolate belonging to

RG flows from Spin(7), CY 4-fold and HK manifolds to AdS, Penrose limits and pp waves

We obtain explicit realizations of holographic renormalization group (RG) flows from M-theory, from E^{2,1} \times Spin(7) at UV to AdS_4 \times \tilde{S^7} (squashed S^7) at IR, from E^{2,1} \times CY4 at UV to AdS_4 \times Q^{1,1,1} at IR, and from E^{2,1} \times HK (hyperKahler) at UV to AdS_4 \times N^{0,1,0} at IR. The dual type IIA string theory configurations correspond to D2-D6 brane systems where D6 branes wrap supersymmetric four-cycles. We also study the Penrose limits and obtain the pp-wave backgrounds for the above configurations. Besides, we study some examples of non-supersymmetric and supersymmetric flows in five-dimensional gauge theories.Comment: 42 pages, 6 eps figures, typos and misprints correcte

Fortification of lysine for improving protein quality in multiple-fortified quick cooking rice : Review

Previous studies in Thailand indicated that rice-based complementary foods of breast-fed infants normally provided inadequate iron and calcium. Quick-cooking rice fortified with different nutrients was therefore developed. The idea of lysine fortification was based on the fact that lysine is a limiting amino acid in rice. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of producing quick-cooking rice (MFQCR) fortified with adequate levels of vitamins, minerals and lysine together with an assessment of lysine intake among Thai infants. Lysine together with iron, calcium, zinc, thiamin and folate was fortified into broken rice to meet the requirements for infants aged 6-24 mo. Lysine loss and changes in physical and sensory qualities were determined during a shelf-life study under accelerated condition. To assess the lysine intake among infants, 24 hour-recall data from Thai National Food Consumption Survey (2006) among infants aged 6-24 mo in Central Thailand was used. It was considered feasible to produce lysine-fortified MFQCR, and using it did not affect the intake of infants. The lysine requirement was most fulfilled in infant aged 12-24 mo being fed with 3 meals. Food consumption data showed that the daily lysine intake was certainly adequate, and no difference between infants from low- and highincome households was found. Lysine fortification in MFQCR might not be beneficial to infants in Central Thailand; however, it is still considered more required in countries where the populations consume cereal-based diet, and have no access to good quality protein e.g. Cambodia, Indonesia and North Kore

Overweight increases risk of trimester hypothyroxinaemia in iodine-deficient pregnant woman

Hypothyroxinaemia early in pregnancy may impair fetal brain development. Increased body weight has been associated with low thyroxine concentrations in non-pregnant women. In pregnant women, morbid maternal obesity is a risk factor for thyroid dysfunction. But whether lesser degrees of overweight that are much more common could be a risk factor for hypothyroxinaemia in pregnancy is unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate if overweight increases risk for thyroid dysfunction, and specifically hypothyroxinaemia, in iodine-deficient pregnant women. We performed a cross-sectional study at first hospital visit among healthy Thai pregnant women. We measured weight and height, urinary iodine concentration (UIC), serum thyroid hormones and thyroglobulin. Pre-pregnancy weight and relevant dietary factors were determined by questionnaire, and body mass index (BMI) was used to classify weight status. Among 514 women (mean gestational age, 11 weeks) with a median UIC of 111¿µg¿dL–1, indicating mild iodine deficiency, 12% had low free thyroxine (fT4) concentrations: 3% had overt hypothyroidism; 7% had subclinical hypothyroidism; and 8% had isolated hypothyroxinaemia. Based on pre-pregnancy BMI, 26% of women were overweight or obese. In a multiple regression model, BMI was a negative predictor of fT4 (ß¿=¿-0.20, P

Fortification of lysine for improving protein quality in multiple-fortified quick cooking rice : Review

Previous studies in Thailand indicated that rice-based complementary foods of breast-fed infants normally provided inadequate iron and calcium. Quick-cooking rice fortified with different nutrients was therefore developed. The idea of lysine fortification was based on the fact that lysine is a limiting amino acid in rice. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of producing quick-cooking rice (MFQCR) fortified with adequate levels of vitamins, minerals and lysine together with an assessment of lysine intake among Thai infants. Lysine together with iron, calcium, zinc, thiamin and folate was fortified into broken rice to meet the requirements for infants aged 6-24 mo. Lysine loss and changes in physical and sensory qualities were determined during a shelf-life study under accelerated condition. To assess the lysine intake among infants, 24 hour-recall data from Thai National Food Consumption Survey (2006) among infants aged 6-24 mo in Central Thailand was used. It was considered feasible to produce lysine-fortified MFQCR, and using it did not affect the intake of infants. The lysine requirement was most fulfilled in infant aged 12-24 mo being fed with 3 meals. Food consumption data showed that the daily lysine intake was certainly adequate, and no difference between infants from low- and highincome households was found. Lysine fortification in MFQCR might not be beneficial to infants in Central Thailand; however, it is still considered more required in countries where the populations consume cereal-based diet, and have no access to good quality protein e.g. Cambodia, Indonesia and North Kore

Bioavailability of heptaglutamyl relative to monoglutamyl folic acid in healthy adults.

Background: The bioavailability of dietary folate has been estimated to be approximate to50% of that of synthetic folic acid. Folate in the diet is linked to a polyglutamate chain that may restrict folate absorption. Objective: Our goal was to quantify the bioavailability and bioefficacy of low doses of polyglutamyl folic acid relative to that of monoglutamyl folic acid. Design: In total, 180 men and women aged 50-75 y ingested capsules containing 323 nmol heptaglutamyl folic acid/d or 262 nmol monoglutamyl folic acid/d or placebo in a randomized parallel trial. Serum and erythrocyte folate and plasma homocysteine concentrations were measured after an overnight fast at baseline and after 12 wk of intervention. Results: Mean serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations increased less in the polyglutamyl folic acid group [6.1 (95% CI: 5.3, 7.0) and 155 (122, 188) nmol/L, respectively] than in the monoglutamyl folic acid group [ 11.8 (10.3, 13.3) and 282 (246, 318) nmol/L, respectively]. Differences remained statistically significant (P <0.05) after correction for the difference in the amount of folic acid administered. The decrease in plasma homocysteine concentrations did not differ significantly between treatment groups [polyglutamyl: -12.1% (-14.8%, -9.3%); monoglutamyl: -14.1% (-16.3%, -11.9%)]. The relative bioavailability of polyglutamyl folic acid was 64% (52%, 75%) on the basis of serum folate and was 68% (51%, 84%) on the basis of erythrocyte folate concentrations. Bioefficacy, determined by changes in plasma homocysteine concentrations, was 106% (77%, 134%). Conclusion: The polyglutamate chain of folates in the diet reduces their bioavailability