441 research outputs found
Unoriented geometric functors
Farrell and Hsiang noticed that the geometric surgery groups defined By Wall,
Chapter 9, do not have the naturality Wall claims for them. They were able to
fix the problem by augmenting Wall's definitions to keep track of a line
bundle.
The definition of geometric Wall groups involves homology with local
coefficients and these also lack Wall's claimed naturality.
One would hope that a geometric bordism theory involving non-orientable
manifolds would enjoy the same naturality as that enjoyed by homology with
local coefficients. A setting for this naturality entirely in terms of local
coefficients is presented in this paper.
Applying this theory to the example of non-orientable Wall groups restores
much of the elegance of Wall's original approach. Furthermore, a geometric
determination of the map induced by conjugation by a group element is given.Comment: 12 pages, LaTe
Topological transversals to a family of convex sets
Let be a family of compact convex sets in . We say
that has a \emph{topological -transversal of index }
(, ) if there are, homologically, as many transversal
-planes to as -planes containing a fixed -plane in
.
Clearly, if has a -transversal plane, then
has a topological -transversal of index for and . The converse is not true in general.
We prove that for a family of compact convex sets in
a topological -transversal of index implies an
ordinary -transversal. We use this result, together with the
multiplication formulas for Schubert cocycles, the Lusternik-Schnirelmann
category of the Grassmannian, and different versions of the colorful Helly
theorem by B\'ar\'any and Lov\'asz, to obtain some geometric consequences
CYP17A1 deficient XY mice display susceptibility to atherosclerosis, altered lipidomic profile and atypical sex development
CYP17A1 is a cytochrome P450 enzyme with 17-alpha-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase activities. CYP17A1 genetic variants are associated with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction and visceral and subcutaneous fat distribution; however, the underlying pathological mechanisms remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the function of CYP17A1 and its impact on atherosclerosis in mice. At 4-6 months, CYP17A1-deficient mice were viable, with a KO:Het:WT ratio approximating the expected Mendelian ratio of 1:2:1. All Cyp17a1 knockout (KO) mice were phenotypically female; however, 58% were Y chromosome-positive, resembling the phenotype of human CYP17A1 deficiency, leading to 46,XY differences/disorders of sex development (DSD). Both male and female homozygous KO mice were infertile, due to abnormal genital organs. Plasma steroid analyses revealed a complete lack of testosterone in XY-KO mice and marked accumulation of progesterone in XX-KO mice. Elevated corticosterone levels were observed in both XY and XX KO mice. In addition, Cyp17a1 heterozygous mice were also backcrossed onto an Apoe KO atherogenic background and fed a western-type diet (WTD) to study the effects of CYP17A1 on atherosclerosis. Cyp17a1 x Apoe double KO XY mice developed more atherosclerotic lesions than Apoe KO male controls, regardless of diet (standard or WTD). Increased atherosclerosis in CYP17A1 XY KO mice lacking testosterone was associated with altered lipid profiles. In mice, CYP17A1 deficiency interferes with sex differentiation. Our data also demonstrate its key role in lipidomic profile, and as a risk factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
Evidence gathering in support of sustainable Scottish inshore fisheries: work package (8) final report: establishing a dedicated information resource base for Scottish inshore fisheries â a pilot study
[Extract from Executive Summary] This study was undertaken by Poseidon and Acoura for the Scottish Sustainable Inshore
Fisheries (SSIF) Project and was completed from July 2014 to June 2015.
The objectives of the project were met as it delivered:
1. A searchable database of information for Scottish inshore fisheries;
2. The database was populated to identify information shortfalls, updated information
and additional information of relevance to the IFG management plans;
3. The potential and specification for a shared information platform.Publisher PD
Electrochemical behaviour of gamma hydroxybutyric acid at a platinum electrode in acidic medium
The electrooxidation of Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) on a polycrystalline platinum electrode is studied by cyclic voltammetry in acidic medium. Two oxidation peaks, A and B, are obtained in the positive scan within the potential range of the double layer region and of the platinum oxide region, respectively. In the negative going potential sweep an inverted oxidation peak with an onset partially overlapping with the tail of the cathodic peak for the reduction of the platinum oxide formed during the anodic scan is obtained (peak C). This inverted peak can be observed at a potential close to +0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl at pH 2) and separated 0.4 and 0.8 V from the two other oxidation peaks obtained during the anodic scan and in such conditions that the surface is particularly activated to favour this electrochemical process. The response obtained in the electronic current for the different peaks when GHB concentration and scan rate were changed to allows inferring that these are the result of a potential dependent mechanism. The behaviour observed is according with the oxidation of the alcohol group to the corresponding aldehyde and carboxylic acid (succinic acid) as main products
Further solutions of critical ABF RSOS models
The restricted SOS model of Andrews, Baxter and Forrester has been studied.
The finite size corrections to the eigenvalue spectra of the transfer matrix of
the model with a more general crossing parameter have been calculated.
Therefore the conformal weights and the central charges of the non-unitary or
unitary minimal conformal field have been extracted from the finite size
corrections.Comment: Pages 11; revised versio
The Maslov index in weak symplectic functional analysis
We recall the Chernoff-Marsden definition of weak symplectic structure and
give a rigorous treatment of the functional analysis and geometry of weak
symplectic Banach spaces. We define the Maslov index of a continuous path of
Fredholm pairs of Lagrangian subspaces in continuously varying Banach spaces.
We derive basic properties of this Maslov index and emphasize the new features
appearing.Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures, 45 references, to appear in Ann Glob Anal Geom.
The final publication will be available at http://www.springerlink.com. arXiv
admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:math/040613
Multiple Cancer Testis Antigens Function To Support Tumor Cell Mitotic Fidelity
While the expression of genes that are normally involved in spermatogenesis is frequently detected in tumors, the extent to which these gene products are required for neoplastic behaviors is unclear. To begin to address their functional relevance to tumorigenesis, we identified a cohort of proteins which display synthetic lethality with paclitaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer and whose expression is biased toward testes and tumors. Remarkably, these testis proteins, FMR1NB, NXF2, MAGEA5, FSIP1, and STARD6, are required for accurate chromosome segregation in tumor cells. Their individual depletion enhances the generation of multipolar spindles, increases mitotic transit time, and induces micronucleation in response to an otherwise innocuous dose of paclitaxel. The underlying basis for abnormal mitosis is an alteration in microtubule function, as their depletion increases microtubule cytaster formation and disrupts microtubule stability. Given these observations, we hypothesize that reactivated testis proteins may represent unique tumor cell vulnerabilities which, if targeted, could enhance responsiveness to antimitotic therapy. Indeed, we demonstrate that combining paclitaxel with a small-molecule inhibitor of the gametogenic and tumor cell mitotic protein TACC3 leads to enhanced centrosomal abnormalities, activation of death programs, and loss of anchorage-independent growth
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