Hyperhydrodynamics: Relativistic Viscous Fluids Emerging from Hypermomentum

We explore a new action formulation of hyperfluids, fluids with intrinsic hypermomentum. Brown's Lagrangian for a relativistic perfect fluid is generalised by incorporating the degrees of freedom encoded in the hypermomentum tensor, namely by including connection-matter couplings. Quite interestingly, generic hyperfluids are imperfect, since hypermomentum induces such effects as bulk and shear viscosities as well as heat fluxes. The various coefficients that appear in the first order expansion of hydrodynamics can now be deduced from a Lagrangian formulation, given a geometrical interpretation and a suggested microscopic description in terms of hypermomentum. This connection between hypermomentum and dissipative fluids could shed new light on the physics of relativistic hydrodynamics. The applicability of the new formalism is demonstrated by exact cosmological solutions.Comment: 38 pages, no figure

Malignant neuroleptic syndrome following deep brain stimulation surgery: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The neuroleptic malignant syndrome is an uncommon but dangerous complication characterized by hyperthermia, autonomic dysfunction, altered mental state, hemodynamic dysregulation, elevated serum creatine kinase, and rigor. It is most often caused by an adverse reaction to anti-psychotic drugs or abrupt discontinuation of neuroleptic or anti-parkinsonian agents. To the best of our knowledge, it has never been reported following the common practice of discontinuation of anti-parkinsonian drugs during the pre-operative preparation for deep brain stimulation surgery for Parkinson's disease.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the first case of neuroleptic malignant syndrome associated with discontinuation of anti-parkinsonian medication prior to deep brain stimulation surgery in a 54-year-old Caucasian man.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The characteristic neuroleptic malignant syndrome symptoms can be attributed to other, more common causes associated with deep brain stimulation treatment for Parkinson's disease, thus requiring a high index of clinical suspicion to timely establish the correct diagnosis. As more centers become eligible to perform deep brain stimulation, neurologists and neurosurgeons alike should be aware of this potentially fatal complication. Timely activation of the deep brain stimulation system may be important in accelerating the patient's recovery.</p

Irrigation Scheduling to Promote Corn Productivity in Central Alabama

Agriculture is the largest consumer of water in the United States. Results from previous studies have shown thatit is possible to substantially reduce irrigation amounts and maintain corn yield. The objectives of this study wereto evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of two irrigation scheduling methods for corn production inAlabama. Two irrigation scheduling methods evaluated were: a) Checkbook, which is one of the conventionalmethods used by farmers that is based on the soil water balance estimated using water lost by evapotranspirationand its replacement through rainfall or irrigation, and b) Sensor-based, which was based on soil matric potentialvalues recorded by soil moisture tension sensors installed in the field. The experimental field was divided intotwo irrigation management zones (zone A and zone B) based on soil properties of each field. During the 2014season in zone A, significant grain yield differences were observed between the two irrigation methods. TheCheckbook plots exhibited greater yield than Sensor-based plots: 10181 kg ha-1 and 9696 kg ha-1, respectively.The greater yield on the Checkbook plots could be associated with higher irrigation rate applied, 148 mm more,compared with the Sensor-based plots. In zone B, there were no significant yield differences between bothirrigation methods; however, Sensor-based plots out yielded Checkbook plots, with 9673 kg ha-1 and 9584 kgha-1, respectively. Even though the irrigation amount applied in Checkbook located in zone B was higher, 102mm more, there were no significant yield differences. Therefore, it suggests that the Sensor-based method waspromissory irrigation scheduling strategy under the conditions of zone B. In 2015, there were no significant grainyield differences between zone A and zone B when the data from the Checkbook plots were analyzed. However,the Sensor-based treatment produced a statistically significant difference of grain yield of 13597 kg ha-1 in zoneA and 11659 kg ha-1 in zone B, also both zones received the same amount of irrigation. Overall results of bothgrowing seasons indicated that the use of the Sensor-based irrigation scheduling treatment resulted in similarvalues of total profit per hectare when compared to Checkbook method. The Sensor-based method seems apromising strategy that could result in water and financial savings, but more research is required.Fil: Da Cunha Leme Filho, Jose F.. Virginia Polytechnic Institute; Estados UnidosFil: Ortiz, Brenda V.. Auburn University.; Estados UnidosFil: Damianidis, Damianos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Oliveros; ArgentinaFil: Balkcom, Kipling S.. Usda-soil Dynamics Research; Estados UnidosFil: Dougherty, Mark. Auburn University.; Estados UnidosFil: Poschel, Thorsten. Auburn University.; Estados Unido

Hyaluronic acid levels are increased in complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions

Background and Aim. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a component of extracellular matrix and may play a role in the pleural inflammation which is implicated in parapneumonic effusions.The aim of the current study was to investigate HA levels in serum and pleura in patients with parapneumonic effusions. Methods. We prospectively studied pleural and serum levels of HA in 58 patients with pleural effusions due to infection (complicated and uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions), malignant effusions and transudative effusions due to congestive heart failure. In addition to HA, TNF-α and IL-1β levels were determined in pleural fluid and serum by ELISA. Results. The median±SD HA levels (pg/ml) in pleural fluid of patients with complicated effusions (39.058±11.208) were significantly increased (p<0.005), compared to those with uncomplicated parapneumonic effusions (11.230±1.969), malignant effusions (10.837±4.803) or congestive heart failure (5.392±3.133). There was no correlation between pleural fluid and serum HA values. Pleural fluid TNF-α levels (146±127 pg/mL) and IL-1β levels (133.4±156 pg/mL) were significantly higher in patients with complicated parapneumonic effusions compared to patients with other types of effusion (p<0.05). No significant association between HA and TNF-α or IL-1β was found. Conclusions. HA may play a significant role in the inflammatory process which characterises exudative infectious pleuritis. Further investigation might reveal whether HA is a useful marker in the management of parapneumonic effusions

General teleparallel quadratic gravity

In this Letter we consider a general quadratic parity-preserving theory for a general flat connection. Imposing a local symmetry under the general linear group singles out the general teleparallel equivalent of General Relativity carrying both torsion and non-metricity. We provide a detailed discussion on the teleparallel equivalents of General Relativity and how the two known equivalents, formulated on Weitzenböck and symmetric teleparallel geometries respectively, can be interpreted as two gauge-fixed versions of the general teleparallel equivalent. We then explore the viability of the general quadratic theory by studying the spectrum around Minkowski. The linear theory generally contains two symmetric rank-2 fields plus a 2-form and, consequently, extra gauge symmetries are required to obtain potentially viable theories.Atraccion del Talento Cientifico en SalamancaprogrammeMINECO FIS2014-52837-P FIS2016-78859-PEuropean Research Council (ERC) 801781Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) 179740Estonian Research Council PRF project PRG356European Union (EU) CoE TK133CANTATA COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) action, EU Framework Programme Horizon 2020 CA15117Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness FPU15/0286

The impact of patterns in linkage disequilibrium and sequencing quality on the imprint of balancing selection

Regions under balancing selection are characterized by dense polymorphisms and multiple persistent haplotypes, along with other sequence complexities. Successful identification of these patterns depends on both the statistical approach and the quality of sequencing. To address this challenge, at first, a new statistical method called LD-ABF was developed, employing efficient Bayesian techniques to effectively test for balancing selection. LD-ABF demonstrated the most robust detection of selection in a variety of simulation scenarios, compared against a range of existing tests/tools (Tajima\u27s D, HKA, Dng, BetaScan, and BalLerMix). Furthermore, the impact of the quality of sequencing on detection of balancing selection was explored, as well, using: (i) SNP genotyping and exome data, (ii) targeted high-resolution HLA genotyping (IHIW), and (iii) whole-genome long-read sequencing data (Pangenome). In the analysis of SNP genotyping and exome data, we identified known targets and 38 new selection signatures in genes not previously linked to balancing selection. To further investigate the impact of sequencing quality on detection of balancing selection, a detailed investigation of the MHC was performed with high-resolution HLA typing data. Higher quality sequencing revealed the HLA-DQ genes consistently demonstrated strong selection signatures otherwise not observed from the sparser SNP array and exome data. The HLA-DQ selection signature was also replicated in the Pangenome samples using considerably less samples but, with high-quality long-read sequence data. The improved statistical method, coupled with higher quality sequencing, leads to more consistent identification of selection and enhanced localization of variants under selection, particularly in complex regions

Puddle formation, persistent gaps, and non-mean-field breakdown of superconductivity in overdoped (Pb,Bi)2Sr2CuO6+{\delta}

The cuprate high-temperature superconductors exhibit many unexplained electronic phases, but it was often thought that the superconductivity at sufficiently high doping is governed by conventional mean-field Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer (BCS) theory[1]. However, recent measurements show that the number of paired electrons (the superfluid density) vanishes when the transition temperature Tc goes to zero[2], in contradiction to expectation from BCS theory. The origin of this anomalous vanishing is unknown. Our scanning tunneling spectroscopy measurements in the overdoped regime of the (Pb,Bi)2Sr2CuO6+{\delta} high-temperature superconductor show that it is due to the emergence of puddled superconductivity, featuring nanoscale superconducting islands in a metallic matrix[3,4]. Our measurements further reveal that this puddling is driven by gap filling, while the gap itself persists beyond the breakdown of superconductivity. The important implication is that it is not a diminishing pairing interaction that causes the breakdown of superconductivity. Unexpectedly, the measured gap-to-filling correlation also reveals that pair-breaking by disorder does not play a dominant role and that the mechanism of superconductivity in overdoped cuprate superconductors is qualitatively different from conventional mean-field theory

Resolving the Role of Plant Glutamate Dehydrogenase. I. in vivo Real Time Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Experiments

In higher plants the glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) enzyme catalyzes the reversible amination of 2-oxoglutarate to form glutamate, using ammonium as a substrate. For a better understanding of the physiological function of GDH either in ammonium assimilation or in the supply of 2-oxoglutarate, we used transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants overexpressing the two genes encoding the enzyme. An in vivo real time 15N-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy approach allowed the demonstration that, when the two GDH genes were overexpressed individually or simultaneously, the transgenic plant leaves did not synthesize glutamate in the presence of ammonium when glutamine synthetase (GS) was inhibited. In contrast we confirmed that the primary function of GDH is to deaminate Glu. When the two GDH unlabeled substrates ammonium and Glu were provided simultaneously with either [15N]Glu or 15NH4+ respectively, we found that the ammonium released from the deamination of Glu was reassimilated by the enzyme GS, suggesting the occurrence of a futile cycle recycling both ammonium and Glu. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that the GDH enzyme, in conjunction with NADH-GOGAT, contributes to the control of leaf Glu homeostasis, an amino acid that plays a central signaling and metabolic role at the interface of the carbon and nitrogen assimilatory pathways. Thus, in vivo NMR spectroscopy appears to be an attractive technique to follow the flux of metabolites in both normal and genetically modified plants