Loop observables for BF theories in any dimension and the cohomology of knots

A generalization of Wilson loop observables for BF theories in any dimension is introduced in the Batalin-Vilkovisky framework. The expectation values of these observables are cohomology classes of the space of imbeddings of a circle. One of the resulting theories discussed in the paper has only trivalent interactions and, irrespective of the actual dimension, looks like a 3-dimensional Chern-Simons theory.Comment: 13 page

STOICHIOMETRY OF RESPIRATORY STIMULATION, ACCUMULATION OF CA++ AND PHOSPHATE, AND OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION IN RAT LIVER MITOCHONDRIA.

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Wilson Surfaces and Higher Dimensional Knot Invariants

An observable for nonabelian, higher-dimensional forms is introduced, its properties are discussed and its expectation value in BF theory is described. This is shown to produce potential and genuine invariants of higher-dimensional knot

Wilson surfaces and higher dimensional knot invariants

An observable for nonabelian, higher-dimensional forms is introduced, its properties are discussed and its expectation value in BF theory is described. This is shown to produce potential and genuine invariants of higher-dimensional knots.Comment: 31 pages, 9 figure

Super-stoichiometric Ratios between Ion Movements and Electron Transport in Rat Liver Mitochondria

Abstract The number of Ca++ ions accumulated per pair of electrons passing through each energy-conserving site of the respiratory chain during Ca++-induced respiratory jumps in isolated rat liver mitochondria (i.e. the Ca++: ∼ ratio) is normally approximately 2.0 when the suspending medium contains 80 mm KCl or NaCl at pH 7.4, but no permeant anion. However, when the concentration of impermeant salts is raised to as high as 240 mm, or when the pH is raised to above 8.0, the Ca++ ∼ ratio increases to values exceeding 4.0 to 5.0, primarily because of a decrease in the amount of extra oxygen uptake evoked by addition of Ca++. The ratio H+ ejected: ∼ also increases in proportion to the Ca++: ∼ ratio. Increase in sodium chloride concentration does not influence the adenosine diphosphate to oxygen ratio of oxidative phosphorylation. Such super-stoichiometric ratios of Ca++ uptake are almost completely dependent on electron transport, and occur in the presence of high concentration of impermeant anions such as chloride, bromide, iodide, and thiocyanate, but not when such salts are replaced with sucrose. In the presence of permeant anions, such as phosphate, the Ca++: ∼ ratio remains constant at about 2.0. The possible causes of the apparently "flexible" stoichiometry of Ca++ uptake and H+ ejection with electron transport in the absence of phosphate are discussed

Local treatment with electrochemotherapy of superficial angiosarcomas: Efficacy and safety results from a multi-institutional retrospective study

Background: Angiosarcoma is an aggressive vascular neoplasm with a high propensity for local recurrence. Electrochemotherapy is an emerging skin-directed therapy, exerting prominent cytotoxic activity, and antivascular effects. Its efficacy in angiosarcoma has not been investigated. Methods: This multicenter retrospective analysis reviewed patients who underwent electrochemotherapy from 2007 to 2014 for superficial advanced angiosarcomas. Bleomycin was administered intravenously and delivered within tumors by means of percutaneously applied electric pulses, according to the European Standard Operating Procedures for Electrochemotherapy. Tumor assessment was performed using RECIST (version 1.1). Toxicity (CTCAE, v4.0) and local progression-free survival (LPFS) were also evaluated. Results: Nineteen patients (13 with locally advanced and 6 with metastatic angiosarcomas) were treated. Tumor sites were: scalp (n¼5), breast(n¼8), other skin sites (n¼3), and soft tissue (n¼3). Target lesions (n¼54) ranged in size from 1.5 to 2.5 cm (median, 2 cm). Treatment was well tolerated. After 2 months, an objective response was observed in 12/19 (63%) patients, complete in 8 (42%). One-year LPFS within treatment field was 68%. Local symptom improvement included palliation of bleeding (5/19 patients) and pain relief (6/19 patients). Conclusions: Electrochemotherapy may represent a new locoregional treatment for selected patients with superficial angiosarcomas

Importance of spinal deformity index in risk evaluation of VCF (vertebral compression fractures) in obese subjects: prospective study.

Introduction Obesity and osteoporosis share many features and recent studies have identified many similarities suggesting common pathophysiological mechanisms. Obesity is associated with a higher risk of non-traumatic fractures despite bone mineral density (BMD) being normal or even increased. Materials and methods 54 obese subjects were analyzed (51 ± 16 years, 10 males, 44 females). Spinal deformity index (SDI) is a semi-quantitative method that may be a surrogate index of bone microarchitecture. SDI index was higher in patients than in controls. In 87.5 % of patients and 10 % of controls we found morphometric vertebral fractures, despite a DEXA Tscore not diagnostic of osteoporosis. Conclusion The objective of this study was to assess in obese patients levels of 25OH vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, serum and urinary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), BMD, and SDI. 87.5 % of the obese subjects present nontraumatic vertebral fractures and reduced bone quality as measured by SDI

Electron-hole correlation effects in the emission of light from quantum wires

We present a self-consistent treatment of the electron-hole correlations in optically excited quantum wires within the ladder approximation, and using a contact potential interaction. The limitations of the ladder approximation to the excitonic low-density region are largely overcome by the introduction of higher order correlations through self consistency. We show relevance of these correlations in the low-temperature emission, even for high density relevant in lasing, when large gain replaces excitonic absorption.Comment: 4 paes 3 figure

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. 1,5-diarylpyrrol-3-acetic esters with enhanced inhibitory activity toward cyclooxygenase-2 and improved cyclooxygenase-2/cyclooxygenase-1 selectivity.

he important role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the pathogenesis of inflammation and side effect limitations of current COX-2 inhibitor drugs illustrates a need for the design of new compounds based on alternative structural templates. We previously reported a set of substituted 1,5-diarylpyrrole derivatives, along with their inhibitory activity toward COX enzymes. Several compounds proved to be highly selective COX-2 inhibitors and their affinity data were rationalized through docking simulations. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of new 1,5-diarylpyrrole derivatives that were assayed for their in vitro inhibitory effects toward COX isozymes. Among them, the ethyl-2-methyl-5-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-1-[3-fluorophenyl]-1H-pyrrol-3- acetate (1d), which was the most potent and COX-2 selective compound, also showed a very interesting in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, laying the foundations for developing new lead compounds that could be effective agents in the armamentarium for the management of inflammation and pain