Higher dimensional abelian Chern-Simons theories and their link invariants

The role played by Deligne-Beilinson cohomology in establishing the relation between Chern-Simons theory and link invariants in dimensions higher than three is investigated. Deligne-Beilinson cohomology classes provide a natural abelian Chern-Simons action, non trivial only in dimensions $4l+3$, whose parameter $k$ is quantized. The generalized Wilson $(2l+1)$-loops are observables of the theory and their charges are quantized. The Chern-Simons action is then used to compute invariants for links of $(2l+1)$-loops, first on closed $(4l+3)$-manifolds through a novel geometric computation, then on $\mathbb{R}^{4l+3}$ through an unconventional field theoretic computation.Comment: 40 page

Domino D3.1 - Architecture definition

This deliverable presents the concept of operation of Domino. It includes a description of the systems, subsystems and processes that will be taken into account in the model, as well as the general scope of the model. For each of the mechanisms suggested to be modelled in the project, the deliverable provides a set of possible operational concepts and uptake/scope to be deployed

eIF4A inhibitors suppress cell-cycle feedback response and acquired resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition in cancer

CDK4/6 inhibitors are FDA-approved drugs for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer and are being evaluated to treat other tumor types, including KRAS-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, their clinical utility is often limited by drug resistance. Here, we sought to better understand the resistant mechanisms and help devise potential strategies to overcome this challenge. We show that treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors in both ER+ breast cancer and KRAS-mutant NSCLC cells induces feedback upregulation of cyclin D1, CDK4, and cyclin E1, mediating drug resistance. We demonstrate that rocaglates, which preferentially target translation of key cell-cycle regulators, effectively suppress this feedback upregulation induced by CDK4/6 inhibition. Consequently, combination treatment of CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib with the eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4A inhibitor, CR-1-31-B, is synergistic in suppressing the growth of these cancer cells in vitro and in vivo Furthermore, ER+ breast cancer and KRAS-mutant NSCLC cells that acquired resistance to palbociclib after chronic drug exposure are also highly sensitive to this combination treatment strategy. Our findings reveal a novel strategy using eIF4A inhibitors to suppress cell-cycle feedback response and to overcome resistance to CDK4/6 inhibition in cancer.Accepted manuscrip

The protein import apparatus of chloroplasts

Routing of cytosolically synthesized precursor proteins into chloroplasts is a specific process which involves a multitude of soluble and membrane components. In this review we wil1 focus on early events of the translocation pathway of nuclear coded plastidic precursor proteins and compare import routes for polypeptide of the outer chloroplast envelope to that of internal chloroplast compartments. A number of proteins housed in the chloroplast envelopes have been implied to be involved in the translocation process, but so far a certain function has not been assigned to any of these proteins. The only exception could be an envelope localized hsc 70 homologue which could retain the import competence of a precursor protein in transit into the organelle

The heavy fermion damping rate puzzle

: We examine again the problem of the damping rate of a moving heavy fermion in a hot plasma within the resummed perturbative theory of Pisarski and Braaten. The ansatz for its evaluation which relates it to the imaginary part of the fermion propagator pole in the framework of a self-consistent approach is critically analyzed. As already pointed out by various authors, the only way to define the rate is through additional implementation of magnetic screening. We show in detail how the ansatz works in this case and where we disagree with other authors. We conclude that the self-consistent approach is not satisfactory.Comment: 17 page

QCD

We discuss issues of QCD at the LHC including parton distributions, Monte Carlo event generators, the available next-to-leading order calculations, resummation, photon production, small x physics, double parton scattering, and backgrounds to Higgs production.Comment: 115 pages, Latex, 47 figures, to appear in the Report of the ``1999 CERN Workshop on SM Physics (and more) at the LHC'', S. Catani, M. Dittmar, D. Soper, W.J. Stirling, S. Tapprogge (convenors

Chitosan nanoparticle coatings reduce microbial growth on fresh-cut apples while not affecting quality attributes.

This study addressed the effects of chitosan-based nanoparticles on microbiological quality, colour, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) and firmness of fresh-cut ?Gala? apple slices during storage at 5 °C for 10 days. The treatments carried out were as follows: (i) slices pulverised with 110-nm chitosan nanoparticles, (ii) slices pulverised with 300-nm chitosan nanoparticles, (iii) 2 g L 1 chitosan dissolved in 2% citric acid and (iv) noncoated samples.[On line]