An algebraic method to solve the radial Schrödinger equation

AbstractWe propose a method of numerical integration of differential equations of the type x2y″+f(x)y=0 by approximating its solution with solutions of equations of the type x2y″+(ax2+bx+c)y=0. This approximation is performed by segmentary approximation on an interval. We apply the method to obtain approximate solutions of the radial Schrödinger equation on a given interval and test it for two different potentials. We conclude that our method gives a similar accuracy than the Taylor method of higher order

Motif Dan Proses Psikologis Korupsi

A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted to identify and describe the phenomenon of corruption psychology. Two corruptors were interviewed to explore their perceptions on corrupt practices in Central Java. The interview conducted to explore informant perceptions on a real process. Interview data collected resulted in five themes: (1) Corruption is an act of abuse the authority, identical with theft, something that not run correctly, and using public money for personal and group interest intentionally; (2) The motives of the informants in doing corruption are solidarity with the friends\u27 doer, system that enables to corrupt, to earn much more money, and make friends; (3) Process of corruption; budget-making has been done by legislative and executive institution; marking-up the budget, facilities and allowances; reporting the administrative data manipulatively; inter-relating chain in corruption process; and distributing the aspiration fund without a proof of receipts; (4) The impact of corruption is making someone\u27s wiser in life, putting the corruptors in to the jail, humiliating their big family, and also, having a more debt, and (5) The settlement of problems that they employ is by using emotion-focused coping. Keywords: corruption, phenomenology, motive, impact, copin

Molecular pathway profiling of T lymphocyte signal transduction pathways; Th1 and Th2 genomic fingerprints are defined by TCR and CD28-mediated signaling

Contains fulltext : 108719.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: T lymphocytes are orchestrators of adaptive immunity. Naive T cells may differentiate into Th1, Th2, Th17 or iTreg phenotypes, depending on environmental co-stimulatory signals. To identify genes and pathways involved in differentiation of Jurkat T cells towards Th1 and Th2 subtypes we performed comprehensive transcriptome analyses of Jurkat T cells stimulated with various stimuli and pathway inhibitors. Results from these experiments were validated in a human experimental setting using whole blood and purified CD4+ Tcells. RESULTS: Calcium-dependent activation of T cells using CD3/CD28 and PMA/CD3 stimulation induced a Th1 expression profile reflected by increased expression of T-bet, RUNX3, IL-2, and IFNgamma, whereas calcium-independent activation via PMA/CD28 induced a Th2 expression profile which included GATA3, RXRA, CCL1 and Itk. Knock down with siRNA and gene expression profiling in the presence of selective kinase inhibitors showed that proximal kinases Lck and PKCtheta are crucial signaling hubs during T helper cell activation, revealing a clear role for Lck in Th1 development and for PKCtheta in both Th1 and Th2 development. Medial signaling via MAPkinases appeared to be less important in these pathways, since specific inhibitors of these kinases displayed a minor effect on gene expression. Translation towards a primary, whole blood setting and purified human CD4+ T cells revealed that PMA/CD3 stimulation induced a more pronounced Th1 specific, Lck and PKCtheta dependent IFNgamma production, whereas PMA/CD28 induced Th2 specific IL-5 and IL-13 production, independent of Lck activation. PMA/CD3-mediated skewing towards a Th1 phenotype was also reflected in mRNA expression of the master transcription factor Tbet, whereas PMA/CD28-mediated stimulation enhanced GATA3 mRNA expression in primary human CD4+ Tcells. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies stimulatory pathways and gene expression profiles for in vitro skewing of T helper cell activation. PMA/CD3 stimulation enhances a Th1-like response in an Lck and PKCtheta dependent fashion, whereas PMA/CD28 stimulation results in a Th2-like phenotype independent of the proximal TCR-tyrosine kinase Lck. This approach offers a robust and fast translational in vitro system for skewed T helper cell responses in Jurkat T cells, primary human CD4+ Tcells and in a more complex matrix such as human whole blood

Associations between depressive symptoms and disease progression in older patients with chronic kidney disease: results of the EQUAL study

Background Depressive symptoms are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage kidney disease; however, few small studies have examined this association in patients with earlier phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied associations between baseline depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced CKD and examined whether these associations differed depending on sex. Methods CKD patients (>= 65 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate <= 20 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) were included from a European multicentre prospective cohort between 2012 and 2019. Depressive symptoms were measured by the five-item Mental Health Inventory (cut-off <= 70; 0-100 scale). Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to study associations between depressive symptoms and time to dialysis initiation, all-cause mortality and these outcomes combined. A joint model was used to study the association between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time. Analyses were adjusted for potential baseline confounders. Results Overall kidney function decline in 1326 patients was -0.12 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/month. A total of 515 patients showed depressive symptoms. No significant association was found between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time (P = 0.08). Unlike women, men with depressive symptoms had an increased mortality rate compared with those without symptoms [adjusted hazard ratio 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.93)]. Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with a higher hazard of dialysis initiation, or with the combined outcome (i.e. dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality). Conclusions There was no significant association between depressive symptoms at baseline and decline in kidney function over time in older patients with advanced CKD. Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a higher mortality rate in men

Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Alternaria infectoria in a Renal Transplant Recipient

We report on a case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria infectoria in a renal transplant recipient with pulmonary infiltrates and multiple skin lesions. Diagnosis was based on microscopy and culture of the skin lesions. Treatment consisted of a combination of surgical excision and systemic antifungal therapy, first with itraconazole and subsequently with liposomal amphotericin B, for 39 days. At a 20-month follow-up visit, no recurrence of the skin lesions or the pulmonary infiltrates had occurred

Smoking regular and low-nicotine cigarettes results in comparable levels of volatile organic compounds in blood and exhaled breath

Smokers are exposed to more than 6000 (toxic) smoke components including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In this study VOCs levels in headspace of blood and exhaled breath, in the mainstream smoke of three types of cigarettes of one brand varying in declared tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide (TNCO) yields are investigated. The objective was to identify whether VOC levels correlate with TNCO yields of cigarettes smoked according to ISO 3308. Our data show that smoking regular and low-TNCO cigarettes result in comparable levels of VOCs in blood and exhaled breath. Hence, declared TNCO-yields as determined with the ISO 3308 machine smoking protocol are irrelevant for predicting VOC exposure upon human smoking. Venous blood and exhaled breath were sampled from 12 male volunteers directly before and 10 min after smoking cigarettes on 3 d (day 1 Marlboro Red (regular), day 2 Marlboro Prime (highly ventilated, low-TNCO), day 3 Marlboro Prime with blocked filter ventilation (taped)). Upon smoking, the levels of toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, o-xylene, and 2,5-dimethylfuran in both headspace of venous blood and exhaled breath increase within the same range for all three cigarette types smoked. However, no strong correlation was found between VOC levels in exhaled breath and VOC levels in headspace of blood because of variations between the individual smoking volunteers. More research is required in order to use exhaled breath sampling as a non-invasive quantitative marker for volatile toxicants from cigarette smoke exposure of different brands

Additional file 3 Figure S3. of Changes in peripheral immune cell numbers and functions in octogenarian walkers – an acute exercise study

Exercise-induced changes of naïve Treg, but not memory Treg. (a) Mean (+/- SEM) numbers (109 cells/L) of Naïve Treg and Memory Treg Pre-walking and Post-walking in CMV+ (n = 13) and CMV- (n = 7) subjects. Statistical significance by Wilcoxon signed rank test is indicated as *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01. (DOCX 739 kb