124 research outputs found
A spinor approach to Walker geometry
A four-dimensional Walker geometry is a four-dimensional manifold M with a
neutral metric g and a parallel distribution of totally null two-planes. This
distribution has a natural characterization as a projective spinor field
subject to a certain constraint. Spinors therefore provide a natural tool for
studying Walker geometry, which we exploit to draw together several themes in
recent explicit studies of Walker geometry and in other work of Dunajski (2002)
and Plebanski (1975) in which Walker geometry is implicit. In addition to
studying local Walker geometry, we address a global question raised by the use
of spinors.Comment: 41 pages. Typos which persisted into published version corrected,
notably at (2.15
Lagrange-Fedosov Nonholonomic Manifolds
We outline an unified approach to geometrization of Lagrange mechanics,
Finsler geometry and geometric methods of constructing exact solutions with
generic off-diagonal terms and nonholonomic variables in gravity theories. Such
geometries with induced almost symplectic structure are modelled on
nonholonomic manifolds provided with nonintegrable distributions defining
nonlinear connections. We introduce the concept of Lagrange-Fedosov spaces and
Fedosov nonholonomic manifolds provided with almost symplectic connection
adapted to the nonlinear connection structure.
We investigate the main properties of generalized Fedosov nonholonomic
manifolds and analyze exact solutions defining almost symplectic Einstein
spaces.Comment: latex2e, v3, published variant, with new S.V. affiliatio
Natural Diagonal Riemannian Almost Product and Para-Hermitian Cotangent Bundles
We obtain the natural diagonal almost product and locally product structures
on the total space of the cotangent bundle of a Riemannian manifold. We find
the Riemannian almost product (locally product) and the (almost) para-Hermitian
cotangent bundles of natural diagonal lift type. We prove the characterization
theorem for the natural diagonal (almost) para-K\"ahlerian structures on the
total spaces of the cotangent bundle.Comment: 10 pages, will appear in Czechoslovak Mathematical Journa
Novel integrative genomic tool for interrogating lithium response in bipolar disorder
We developed a novel integrative genomic tool called GRANITE (Genetic Regulatory Analysis of Networks Investigational Tool Environment) that can effectively analyze large complex data sets to generate interactive networks. GRANITE is an open-source tool and invaluable resource for a variety of genomic fields. Although our analysis is confined to static expression data, GRANITE has the capability of evaluating time-course data and generating interactive networks that may shed light on acute versus chronic treatment, as well as evaluating dose response and providing insight into mechanisms that underlie therapeutic versus sub-therapeutic doses or toxic doses. As a proof-of-concept study, we investigated lithium (Li) response in bipolar disorder (BD). BD is a severe mood disorder marked by cycles of mania and depression. Li is one of the most commonly prescribed and decidedly effective treatments for many patients (responders), although its mode of action is not yet fully understood, nor is it effective in every patient (non-responders). In an in vitro study, we compared vehicle versus chronic Li treatment in patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs) (derived from either responders or non-responders) using both microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA gene expression profiling. We present both Li responder and non-responder network visualizations created by our GRANITE analysis in BD. We identified by network visualization that the Let-7 family is consistently downregulated by Li in both groups where this miRNA family has been implicated in neurodegeneration, cell survival and synaptic development. We discuss the potential of this analysis for investigating treatment response and even providing clinicians with a tool for predicting treatment response in their patients, as well as for providing the industry with a tool for identifying network nodes as targets for novel drug discovery
On paraquaternionic submersions between paraquaternionic K\"ahler manifolds
In this paper we deal with some properties of a class of semi-Riemannian
submersions between manifolds endowed with paraquaternionic structures, proving
a result of non-existence of paraquaternionic submersions between
paraquaternionic K\"ahler non locally hyper paraK\"ahler manifolds. Then we
examine, as an example, the canonical projection of the tangent bundle, endowed
with the Sasaki metric, of an almost paraquaternionic Hermitian manifold.Comment: 13 pages, no figure
Gag Mutations Strongly Contribute to HIV-1 Resistance to Protease Inhibitors in Highly Drug-Experienced Patients besides Compensating for Fitness Loss
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) resistance to protease inhibitors (PI) results from mutations in the viral protease (PR) that reduce PI binding but also decrease viral replicative capacity (RC). Additional mutations compensating for the RC loss subsequently accumulate within PR and in Gag substrate cleavage sites. We examined the respective contribution of mutations in PR and Gag to PI resistance and RC and their interdependence using a panel of HIV-1 molecular clones carrying different sequences from six patients who had failed multiple lines of treatment. Mutations in Gag strongly and directly contributed to PI resistance besides compensating for fitness loss. This effect was essentially carried by the C-terminal region of Gag (containing NC-SP2-p6) with little or no contribution from MA, CA, and SP1. The effect of Gag on resistance depended on the presence of cleavage site mutations A431V or I437V in NC-SP2-p6 and correlated with processing of the NC/SP2 cleavage site. By contrast, reverting the A431V or I437V mutation in these highly evolved sequences had little effect on RC. Mutations in the NC-SP2-p6 region of Gag can be dually selected as compensatory and as direct PI resistance mutations, with cleavage at the NC-SP2 site behaving as a rate-limiting step in PI resistance. Further compensatory mutations render viral RC independent of the A431V or I437V mutations while their effect on resistance persists
Synapsin II Is Involved in the Molecular Pathway of Lithium Treatment in Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition with a prevalence of 1–2% in the general population that is characterized by severe episodic shifts in mood ranging from depressive to manic episodes. One of the most common treatments is lithium (Li), with successful response in 30–60% of patients. Synapsin II (SYN2) is a neuronal phosphoprotein that we have previously identified as a possible candidate gene for the etiology of BD and/or response to Li treatment in a genome-wide linkage study focusing on BD patients characterized for excellent response to Li prophylaxis. In the present study we investigated the role of this gene in BD, particularly as it pertains to Li treatment. We investigated the effect of lithium treatment on the expression of SYN2 in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients characterized as excellent Li-responders, non-responders, as well as non-psychiatric controls. Finally, we sought to determine if Li has a cell-type-specific effect on gene expression in neuronal-derived cell lines. In both in vitro models, we found SYN2 to be modulated by the presence of Li. By focusing on Li-responsive BD we have identified a potential mechanism for Li response in some patients
Distinct Double- and Single-Stranded DNA Binding of E. coli Replicative DNA Polymerase III α Subunit
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