9,103 research outputs found
An analysis of the Isgur-Wise Function and its derivatives within a Heavy-Light QCD Quark Model
In determining the mesonic wave function from QCD inspired potential model,
if the linear confinement term is taken as parent (with columbic term as
perturbation), Airy's function appears in the resultant wave function - which
is an infinite series. In the study of Isgur-Wise function (IWF) and its
derivatives with such a wave function, the infinite upper limit of integration
gives rise to divergence. In this paper, we have proposed some reasonable
cut-off values for the upper limit of such integrations and studied the
subsequent effect on the results. We also study the sensitivity of the order of
polynomial approximation of the infinite Airy series in calculating the
derivatives of IWF.Comment: 14 pages,6 tables 8 figure
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) as a potential therapeutic target independent of PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer
Depletion of cellular energy activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to favor energy-producing catabolic processes during tumorigenesis. Using a panel of in vitro cell lines and resected tumors, we investigated the therapeutic value of manipulating AMPK in prostate cancer (PC). Phospho-AMPK expression was significantly elevated in human PC cells and clinical PC samples. In clinical PC, we observed a trend for increasing phospho-AMPK with increasing Gleason sum score; Phospho-AMPK expression was associated with phospho-ACC (p=0.0023). Using the paired PC3 and PC3M cells to model progressive androgen-independent
PC, treatment with either 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR) or A-769662 suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion in both cell lines, and down-regulated mTOR and P70S6Ki levels regardless of the Akt status. Involvement of AMPK was confirmed by Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) and siRNA-mediated AMPK silencing. Despite similar functional responses in PC3 and PC3M cells, AMPK activation resulted in sustained phospho-Akt activation in PC3M cells, but not in PC3 cells. This prompted the addition of the PI3K inhibitor LY-294002 to AICAR treatment of PC3M cells in a proliferation assay. Interestingly, we found no synergistic effects upon combined treatment. Collectively, these findings support AMPK as a potential therapeutic target independent of PI3K/Akt signalling
Decline of signal transduction by phospholipase CĪ³1 in IMR 90 human diploid fibroblasts at high population doubling levels
AbstractDuring cellular senescence in vitro, the cells do not respond mitogenically to serum growth factors at high population doubling levels. Phospholipase C activity in low PDL IMR 90 cells showed a 4.7-fold stimulation in response to 10% serum compared to 3.3-fold in high PDL cells when measured in whole cell extracts. Immunoaffinity purified tyrosine phosphorylated protein fraction showed a greater increase (5.2-fold) in phospholipase C activity in low PDL than high PDL cells (2.1-fold) in response to serum. Serum stimulated PLCĪ³1 activity was diminished in high PDL cells. Immunokinase assay of PLCĪ³1 immunoprecipitates from serum stimulated IMR 90 fibroblasts suggested that diminished enzymatic activity in high PDL cells is not due to less receptor coupled tyrosine phosphorylated PLCĪ³1 enzyme. Serum stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA declined in parallel with the activity of PLCĪ³1, suggesting that its activation might play significant roles in this in vitro model for cellular senescence
A comparative study to see the effectiveness of Pap smear, visual inspection with 3-5% acetic acid and its confirmation by cervical biopsy
Background: Cancer of the cervix is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. The present study was undertaken to compare the effectiveness of Pap smear and visual inspection with 3-5% acetic acid (VIA) in screening carcinoma cervix followed by its confirmation by cervical biopsy.Methods: A total of 100 patients with abnormal looking cervices or symptomatic patients having age beyond 30 years, attending the obstetrics and gynaecology OPD at Naval Hospital Powai, Mumbai from 31st December 2015 to 31st December 2017 were selected for the study. Pap smear and VIA was done on consecutive days. In positive cases cervical biopsy were done to confirm the result.Results: The sensitivity of VIA was 100% but at the same time specificity was 41% there will be unnecessary investigation and biopsy in false positive cases. The sensitivity of cytology was 75% and specificity was 97%. Not a single case was missed by Pap smear only one case of severe dysplasia on cytology had squamous cell carcinoma on HPE which was done after 90 days because of delay in patients follow up.Conclusions: Both the Pap smears and VIA is very effective screening tool for cervical cancer and histopathological examination remains the mainstay. But VIA is very cost effective and easy procedure, though it gives false positive reports but is not going to miss any case, rather leads to over diagnosis of the cases with cervicitis and hence treatment starts early and thus the progress of disease can be slowed down or even stopped
Regge behaviour of distribution functions and t and x-evolutions of gluon distribution function at low-x
In this paper t and x-evolutions of gluon distribution function from
Dokshitzer-Gribov-Lipatov-Altarelli-Parisi(DGLAP) evolution equation in leading
order(LO) at low-x, assuming the Regge behaviour of quark and gluon at this
limit, are presented. We compare our results of gluon distribution function
with MRST 2001, MRST 2004 and GRV '98 parameterizations and show the
compatibility of Regge behaviour of quark and gluon distribution functions with
perturbative quantum chromodynamics(PQCD) at low-x. We also discuss the
limitations of Taylor series expansion method used earlier to solve DGLAP
evolution equations, in the Regge behaviour of distribution functions.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure
Transforming aquatic agricultural systems towards gender equality: a five country review
Aquatic agricultural systems (AAS) are systems in which the annual production dynamics of freshwater and/or coastal ecosystems contribute significantly to total household income. Improving the livelihood security and wellbeing of the estimated 250 million poor people dependent on AAS in Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands and Zambia is the goal of the Worldfish Center-led Consortium Research Program (CRP), āHarnessing the development potential of aquatic agricultural systems for development.ā One component expected to contribute to sustainably achieving this goal is enhancing the gender and wider social equity of the social, economic and political systems within which the AAS function. The CRPās focus on social equity, and particularly gender equity, responds to the limited progress to date in enhancing the inclusiveness of development outcomes through interventions that offer improved availability of resources and technologies without addressing the wider social constraints that marginalized populations face in making use of them. The CRP aims to both offer improved availability and address the wider social constraints in order to determine whether a multi-level approach that engages with individuals, households and communities, as well as the wider social, economic and political contexts in which they function, is more successful in extending developmentās benefits to women and other excluded groups. Designing the research in development initiatives to test this hypothesis requires a solid understanding of each CRP countryās social, cultural and economic contexts and of the variations across them. This paper provides an initial input into developing this knowledge, based on a review of literature on agriculture, aquaculture and gender relations within the five focal countries. Before delving into the findings of the literature review, the paper first justifies the expectation that successfully achieving lasting wellbeing improvements for poor women and men dependent on AAS rests in part on advances in gender equity, and in light of this justification, presents the AAS CRPās conceptual frame
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