1,040 research outputs found
Incidence and impact on clinical outcome of infections with piperacillin/tazobactam resistant Escherichia coli in ICU: A retrospective study
Escherichia coli infections are frequent in ICU patients. The increased resistance to fluoroquinolones and amoxicillin/clavulanate of this pathogen mandates the prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics such as piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP-TAZ) or third generation cephalosporins (3GC)
No-core Symplectic Model: Exploiting Hidden Symmetry in Atomic Nuclei
We report on recent developments within the framework of the no-core symplectic shell model (NCSpM) that complements the no-core shell model (Navrátil, Vary, and Barrett) by exploiting the algebraic features of the symplectic shell model (Rowe and Rosensteel) while also allowing for high-performance computing applications, but in highly truncated, physically relevant subspaces of the complete space. The leading symplectic symmetry typically accounts for 70% to 90% of the structure of the low-lying states, a result that is only moderately dependent on the details of the selected inter-nucleon interaction. Examples for6Li,12C,16O, and20Ne are shown to illustrate the efficacy the NCSpM, and as well the strong overlap with cluster-like and pairing configurations that dominate the dynamics of low-lying states in these nuclei
Functional determinants for general Sturm-Liouville problems
Simple and analytically tractable expressions for functional determinants are
known to exist for many cases of interest. We extend the range of situations
for which these hold to cover systems of self-adjoint operators of the
Sturm-Liouville type with arbitrary linear boundary conditions. The results
hold whether or not the operators have negative eigenvalues. The physically
important case of functional determinants of operators with a zero mode, but
where that mode has been extracted, is studied in detail for the same range of
situations as when no zero mode exists. The method of proof uses the properties
of generalised zeta-functions. The general form of the final results are the
same for the entire range of problems considered.Comment: 28 pages, LaTe
Reconstruction and Validation of a Genome-Scale Metabolic Model for the Filamentous Fungus Neurospora crassa Using FARM
The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa played a central role in the development of twentieth-century genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology, and continues to serve as a model organism for eukaryotic biology. Here, we have reconstructed a genome-scale model of its metabolism. This model consists of 836 metabolic genes, 257 pathways, 6 cellular compartments, and is supported by extensive manual curation of 491 literature citations. To aid our reconstruction, we developed three optimization-based algorithms, which together comprise Fast Automated Reconstruction of Metabolism (FARM). These algorithms are: LInear MEtabolite Dilution Flux Balance Analysis (limed-FBA), which predicts flux while linearly accounting for metabolite dilution; One-step functional Pruning (OnePrune), which removes blocked reactions with a single compact linear program; and Consistent Reproduction Of growth/no-growth Phenotype (CROP), which reconciles differences between in silico and experimental gene essentiality faster than previous approaches. Against an independent test set of more than 300 essential/non-essential genes that were not used to train the model, the model displays 93% sensitivity and specificity. We also used the model to simulate the biochemical genetics experiments originally performed on Neurospora by comprehensively predicting nutrient rescue of essential genes and synthetic lethal interactions, and we provide detailed pathway-based mechanistic explanations of our predictions. Our model provides a reliable computational framework for the integration and interpretation of ongoing experimental efforts in Neurospora, and we anticipate that our methods will substantially reduce the manual effort required to develop high-quality genome-scale metabolic models for other organisms
Understanding emergent collectivity and clustering in nuclei from a symmetry-based no-core shell-model perspective
We present a detailed discussion of the structure of the low-lying positive-parity energy spectrum of C12 from a no-core shell-model perspective. The approach utilizes a fraction of the usual shell-model space and extends its multishell reach via the symmetry-based no-core symplectic shell model (NCSpM) with a simple, physically informed effective interaction. We focus on the ground-state rotational band, the Hoyle state, and its 2+ and 4+ excitations, as well as the giant monopole 0+ resonance, which is a vibrational breathing mode of the ground state. This, in turn, allows us to address the open question about the structure of the Hoyle state and its rotational band. In particular, we find that the Hoyle state is best described through deformed prolate collective modes rather than vibrational modes, while we show that the higher lying giant monopole 0+ resonance resembles the oblate deformation of the C12 ground state. In addition, we identify the giant monopole 0+ and quadrupole 2+ resonances of selected light- and intermediate-mass nuclei, along with other observables of C12, including matter rms radii, electric quadrupole moments, and E2 and E0 transition rates
Zeta function determinant of the Laplace operator on the -dimensional ball
We present a direct approach for the calculation of functional determinants
of the Laplace operator on balls. Dirichlet and Robin boundary conditions are
considered. Using this approach, formulas for any value of the dimension, ,
of the ball, can be obtained quite easily. Explicit results are presented here
for dimensions and .Comment: 22 pages, one figure appended as uuencoded postscript fil
Versatility of MicroRNA Biogenesis
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short single-stranded RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. MiRNAs originate from large primary (pri) and precursor (pre) transcripts that undergo various processing steps along their biogenesis pathway till they reach their mature and functional form. It is not clear, however, whether all miRNAs are processed similarly. Here we show that the ratio between pre-miRNA and mature miRNA forms varies between different miRNAs. Moreover, over-expression of several factors involved in miRNA biogenesis, including Exportin-5, Drosha, NF90a, NF45 and KSRP, displayed bidirectional effects on pre/mature miRNA ratios, suggesting their intricate biogenesis sensitivity. In an attempt to identify additional factors that might explain the versatility in miRNA biogenesis we have analyzed the contribution of two hnRNP family members, hnRNPH1 and hnRNPR. Knock-down or over-expression of these genes suggested that hnRNPR inhibits, whereas hnRNPH1 facilitates, miRNA processing. Overall, our results emphasize that miRNA biogenesis is versatile
Functional determinants for general self-adjoint extensions of Laplace-type operators resulting from the generalized cone
In this article we consider the zeta regularized determinant of Laplace-type
operators on the generalized cone. For {\it arbitrary} self-adjoint extensions
of a matrix of singular ordinary differential operators modelled on the
generalized cone, a closed expression for the determinant is given. The result
involves a determinant of an endomorphism of a finite-dimensional vector space,
the endomorphism encoding the self-adjoint extension chosen. For particular
examples, like the Friedrich's extension, the answer is easily extracted from
the general result. In combination with \cite{BKD}, a closed expression for the
determinant of an arbitrary self-adjoint extension of the full Laplace-type
operator on the generalized cone can be obtained.Comment: 27 pages, 2 figures; to appear in Manuscripta Mathematic
Swept under the carpet? The role of mucociliary clearance in ventilator-induced lung injury
Prevalence of facet joint pain in chronic spinal pain of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions
BACKGROUND: Facet joints are a clinically important source of chronic cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine pain. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the prevalence of facet joint pain by spinal region in patients with chronic spine pain referred to an interventional pain management practice. METHODS: Five hundred consecutive patients with chronic, non-specific spine pain were evaluated. The prevalence of facet joint pain was determined using controlled comparative local anesthetic blocks (1% lidocaine or 1% lidocaine followed by 0.25% bupivacaine), in accordance with the criteria established by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). The study was performed in the United States in a non-university based ambulatory interventional pain management setting. RESULTS: The prevalence of facet joint pain in patients with chronic cervical spine pain was 55% 5(95% CI, 49% – 61%), with thoracic spine pain was 42% (95% CI, 30% – 53%), and in with lumbar spine pain was 31% (95% CI, 27% – 36%). The false-positive rate with single blocks with lidocaine was 63% (95% CI, 54% – 72%) in the cervical spine, 55% (95% CI, 39% – 78%) in the thoracic spine, and 27% (95% CI, 22% – 32%) in the lumbar spine. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that in an interventional pain management setting, facet joints are clinically important spinal pain generators in a significant proportion of patients with chronic spinal pain. Because these patients typically have failed conservative management, including physical therapy, chiropractic treatment and analgesics, they may benefit from specific interventions designed to manage facet joint pain
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