Elastic Scattering Phenomenology

We argue that, in many situations, fits to elastic scattering data that were historically, and frequently still are, considered “good”, are not justifiably so describable. Information about the dynamics of nucleon-nucleus and nucleus-nucleus scattering is lost when elastic scattering phenomenology is insufficiently ambitious. It is argued that in many situations, an alternative approach is appropriate for the phenomenology of nuclear elastic scattering of nucleons and other light nuclei. The approach affords an appropriate means of evaluating folding models, one that fully exploits available empirical data. It is particularly applicable for nucleons and other light ions

Serum ADMA concentration – an independent factor determining FMD impairment in cardiac syndrome X

Mechanisms of decreased endogenous vascular reactivity in individuals with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) are not fully understood

Bonobo personality traits are heritable and associated with vasopressin receptor gene 1a variation

Despite being closely related, bonobos and chimpanzees show remarkable behavioral differences, the proximate origins of which remain unknown. This study examined the link between behavioral variation and variation in the vasopressin 1a receptor gene (Avpr1a) in bonobos. Chimpanzees are polymorphic for a ~360 bp deletion (DupB), which includes a microsatellite (RS3) in the 5′ promoter region of Avpr1a. In chimpanzees, the DupB deletion has been linked to lower sociability, lower social sensitivity, and higher anxiety. Chimpanzees and bonobos differ on these traits, leading some to believe that the absence of the DupB deletion in bonobos may be partly responsible for these differences, and to the prediction that similar associations between Avpr1a genotypes and personality traits should be present in bonobos. We identified bonobo personality dimensions using behavioral measures (Sociability(B), Boldness(B), Openness(B), Activity(B)) and trait ratings (Assertiveness(R), Conscientiousness(R), Openness(R), Agreeableness(R), Attentiveness(R), Extraversion(R)). In the present study we found that all 10 dimensions have nonzero heritabilities, indicating there is a genetic basis to personality, and that bonobos homozygous for shorter RS3 alleles were lower in Attentiveness(R) and higher in Openness(B). These results suggest that variations in Avpr1a genotypes explain both within and between species differences in personality traits of bonobos and chimpanzees

High-power laser experiment forming a supercritical collisionless shock in a magnetized uniform plasma at rest

We present a new experimental method to generate quasi-perpendicular supercritical magnetized collisionless shocks. In our experiment, ambient nitrogen (N) plasma is at rest and well-magnetized, and it has uniform mass density. The plasma is pushed by laser-driven ablation aluminum (Al) plasma. Streaked optical pyrometry and spatially resolved laser collective Thomson scattering clarify structures of plasma density and temperatures, which are compared with one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is indicated that just after the laser irradiation, the Al plasma is magnetized by a self-generated Biermann battery field, and the plasma slaps the incident N plasma. The compressed external field in the N plasma reflects N ions, leading to counter-streaming magnetized N flows. Namely we identify the edge of the reflected N ions. Such interacting plasmas form a magnetized collisionless shock

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP): Report of a case manifested as a mediastinal mass and multiple pulmonary nodules and review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a rare plasma cell neoplasm of soft tissue without bone marrow involvement or other systemic characteristics of multiple myeloma</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 42 year-old woman presented with intermittent dry cough of 10 months duration. Her breathing sound was slightly coarse without rales or rhonchi on auscultation. CT scan revealed a right anterior mediastinal shadow with multiple pulmonary nodular lesions. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed. Histopathology showed it to be a myeloma.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first presentation of EMP with a mediastinal mass with multiple pulmonary nodules.</p

The enhanced expression of the matrix metalloproteinase 9 in nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma is an aggressive disease and has a poor prognosis. Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma is refractory to conventional chemotherapy and has strong tendency of widespread relapse or dissemination into distant sites.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We immunohistochemically studied nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma to elucidate the unique characteristics of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, such as its higher metastatic tendency and its vast necrosis which leads to destruction of the involved tissues. The expression of P-glycoprotein and MMP-9 was evaluated in the 20 patients with nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma and 25 with nasal non-NK/T-cell lymphoma and the relationship between expression of these proteins and clinical results were analyzed in this report.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall 5-year survival rates for patients with nasal NK/T cell lymphoma, and nasal non-NK/T cell lymphoma were 51%, and 84%. Distant involvement free 5-year survival rates for patients with nasal NK/T cell lymphoma, and nasal non-NK/T cell lymphoma were 53%, and 79%.</p> <p>Overall positivity for P-glycoprotein was observed in 10 of 19 patients with NTL and in 13 of 23 patients with non-NTL. When the overall survival rate was compared between patients with P-glycoprotein positive and negative, there was no difference between them.</p> <p>Sixteen of the 19 patients with nasal NK/T cell lymphoma expressed MMP-9. In contrast, only 8 of the 22 patients with nasal non-NK/T cell lymphoma expressed MMP-9. Distant involvement free 5-year survival rates for patients with MMP-9 negative, and MMP-9 positive were 92%, and 61%, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p = 0.027).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Positive immunoreactivity for P-glycoprotein was not an independent prognostic factor in nasal NK/T-cell lymphomas, which stresses the importance of exploring other mechanisms of drug resistance. The strong expression of MMP-9 is uniquely characteristic of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma and may contribute to its strong tendency to disseminatate and the extensive necrosis which is always seen. However, our results are based on univariate comparisons, and as such, should be viewed with some caution.</p

Pathology of the human pituitary adenomas

This article describes pertinent aspects of histochemical and molecular changes of the human pituitary adenomas. The article outlines individual tumor groups with general, specific and molecular findings. The discussion further extends to the unusual adenomas or carcinomas. The description in this article are pertinent not only for the practicing pathologists who are in the position of making proper diagnosis, but also for the pituitary research scientists who engage in solving basic problems in pituitary neoplasms by histochemistry and molecular biology