Symmetry reductions of a particular set of equations of associativity in twodimensional topological field theory

The WDVV equations of associativity arising in twodimensional topological field theory can be represented, in the simplest nontrivial case, by a single third order equation of the Monge-Ampe`re type. By investigating its Lie point symmetries, we reduce it to various nonlinear ordinary differential equations, and we obtain several new explicit solutions.Comment: 10 pages, Latex, to appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 200

The COMT Val158 Met polymorphism as an associated risk factor for Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment in APOE 4 carriers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study is to examine the influence of the <it>catechol-O-methyltranferase (COMT) </it>gene (polymorphism Val158 Met) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment of amnesic type (MCI), and its synergistic effect with the <it>apolipoprotein E gene (APOE)</it>.</p> <p>A total of 223 MCI patients, 345 AD and 253 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical criteria and neuropsychological tests were used to establish diagnostic groups.</p> <p>The DNA Bank of the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) (Spain) determined <it>COMT </it>Val158 Met and <it>APOE </it>genotypes using real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs), respectively. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the risk of AD and MCI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Neither <it>COMT </it>alleles nor genotypes were independent risk factors for AD or MCI. The high activity genotypes (GG and AG) showed a synergistic effect with <it>APOE ε4 </it>allele, increasing the risk of AD (OR = 5.96, 95%CI 2.74-12.94, p < 0.001 and OR = 6.71, 95%CI 3.36-13.41, p < 0.001 respectivily). In AD patients this effect was greater in women.</p> <p>In MCI patients such as synergistic effect was only found between AG and <it>APOE ε4 </it>allele (OR = 3.21 95%CI 1.56-6.63, p = 0.02) and was greater in men (OR = 5.88 95%CI 1.69-20.42, p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>COMT </it>(Val158 Met) polymorphism is not an independent risk factor for AD or MCI, but shows a synergistic effect with <it>APOE ε4 </it>allele that proves greater in women with AD.</p

Natural History of MYH7-Related Dilated Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Variants in myosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7) are responsible for disease in 1% to 5% of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM); however, the clinical characteristics and natural history of MYH7-related DCM are poorly described. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the phenotype and prognosis of MYH7-related DCM. We also evaluated the influence of variant location on phenotypic expression. METHODS: We studied clinical data from 147 individuals with DCM-causing MYH7 variants (47.6% female; 35.6 ± 19.2 years) recruited from 29 international centers. RESULTS: At initial evaluation, 106 (72.1%) patients had DCM (left ventricular ejection fraction: 34.5% ± 11.7%). Median follow-up was 4.5 years (IQR: 1.7-8.0 years), and 23.7% of carriers who were initially phenotype-negative developed DCM. Phenotypic expression by 40 and 60 years was 46% and 88%, respectively, with 18 patients (16%) first diagnosed at <18 years of age. Thirty-six percent of patients with DCM met imaging criteria for LV noncompaction. During follow-up, 28% showed left ventricular reverse remodeling. Incidence of adverse cardiac events among patients with DCM at 5 years was 11.6%, with 5 (4.6%) deaths caused by end-stage heart failure (ESHF) and 5 patients (4.6%) requiring heart transplantation. The major ventricular arrhythmia rate was low (1.0% and 2.1% at 5 years in patients with DCM and in those with LVEF of ≤35%, respectively). ESHF and major ventricular arrhythmia were significantly lower compared with LMNA-related DCM and similar to DCM caused by TTN truncating variants. CONCLUSIONS: MYH7-related DCM is characterized by early age of onset, high phenotypic expression, low left ventricular reverse remodeling, and frequent progression to ESHF. Heart failure complications predominate over ventricular arrhythmias, which are rare

New approaches to the Pt/WOx/Al2O3 catalytic system behavior for the selective glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,3-propanediol

SSCI-VIDE+ATARI+SGF:SBE:AAUInternational audienceAlthough the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol is already well developed, the production of the more valuable 1,3-propanediol is still a challenge. To achieve this aim, it is essential to design catalysts showing high selectivity toward the CO cleavage of the secondary hydroxyl group in glycerol. In this work, two different series of Pt/WOx/Al2O3 catalytic systems were studied for the selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol. The results reveal the necessity to control the tungsten surface density in order to obtain highly dispersed polytungstate species, which are able to produce Bronsted acidity and are involved in the selective formation of 1,3-propanediol. After optimization of the tungsten surface density, the effect of platinum content was also studied. It was found that by improving the interactions between platinum and tungsten oxides, it is possible to increase the selectivity toward 1,3-propanediol. Under optimized conditions, a selectivity toward 1,3-PDO of 51.9% at 53.1% glycerol conversion was obtained. Based on the characterization and activity test results, a reaction mechanism for the Pt-WOx catalytic system in glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,3-propanediol was also proposed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved