7,857 research outputs found
The Tensor Current Divergence Equation in U(1) Gauge Theories is Free of Anomalies
The possible anomaly of the tensor current divergence equation in U(1) gauge
theories is calculated by means of perturbative method. It is found that the
tensor current divergence equation is free of anomalies.Comment: Revtex4, 7 pages, 2 figure
Heavy-Quark Diffusion and Hadronization in Quark-Gluon Plasma
We calculate diffusion and hadronization of heavy quarks in high-energy
heavy-ion collisions implementing the notion of a strongly coupled quark-gluon
plasma in both micro- and macroscopic components. The diffusion process is
simulated using relativistic Fokker-Planck dynamics for elastic scattering in a
hydrodynamic background. The heavy-quark transport coefficients in the medium
are obtained from non-perturbative -matrix interactions which build up
resonant correlations close to the transition temperature. The latter also form
the basis for hadronization of heavy quarks into heavy-flavor mesons via
recombination with light quarks from the medium. The pertinent resonance
recombination satisfies energy conservation and provides an equilibrium mapping
between quark and meson distributions. The recombination probability is derived
from the resonant heavy-quark scattering rate. Consequently, recombination
dominates at low transverse momentum () and yields to fragmentation at
high . Our approach thus emphasizes the role of resonance correlations in
the diffusion and hadronization processes. We calculate the nuclear
modification factor and elliptic flow of - and -mesons for Au-Au
collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, and compare their
decay-electron spectra to available data. We also find that a realistic
description of the medium flow is essential for a quantitative interpretation
of the data.Comment: 16 pages, 14 figure
PediDraw: A web-based tool for drawing a pedigree in genetic counseling
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Drawing a pedigree is a prerequisite in genetic counseling. In medical records, a pedigree is useful to document the family history of the patient. Drawing a pedigree is also necessary in collecting genetic resources for medical research such as positional cloning. Currently, most pedigrees are drawn by hand or by drawing software. Due to the special requirements in a standardized pedigree, generating a pedigree by these methods is usually time-consuming and requires professionals. This limits the usage of a pedigree as demanded in remote diagnosis or online counseling from the counselees to send an electronic pedigree.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We developed an online pedigree drawing tool, PediDraw, which enables users to generate pedigrees after inputting the family information step-by-step on web. It outputs a pedigree or table to present a family history to the counselors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>PediDraw is a user-friendly web-based drawing tool. It is accessible via Internet.</p
PexRAP inhibits PRDM16-mediated thermogenic gene expression
How the nuclear receptor PPARĪ³ regulates the development of two functionally distinct types of adipose tissue, brown and white fat, as well as the browning of white fat, remains unclear. Our previous studies suggest that PexRAP, a peroxisomal lipid synthetic enzyme, regulates PPARĪ³ signaling and white adipogenesis. Here, we show that PexRAP is an inhibitor of brown adipocyte gene expression. PexRAP inactivation promoted adipocyte browning,Ā increased energy expenditure, and decreased adiposity. Identification of PexRAP-interacting proteins suggests that PexRAP function extends beyond its role as a lipid synthetic enzyme. Notably, PexRAP interacts with importin-Ī²1, a nuclear import factor, and knockdown of PexRAP in adipocytes reduced the levels of nuclear phospholipids. PexRAP also interacts with PPARĪ³, as well as PRDM16, a critical transcriptional regulator of thermogenesis, and disrupts the PRDM16-PPARĪ³ complex, providing a potential mechanism for PexRAP-mediated inhibition of adipocyte browning. These results identify PexRAP as an important regulator of adipose tissue remodeling
Lipid raft/caveolae signaling is required for Cryptococcus neoformans invasion into human brain microvascular endothelial cells
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Cryptococcus neoformans </it>has a predilection for central nervous system infection. <it>C. neoformans </it>traversal of the blood brain barrier, composed of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), is the crucial step in brain infection. However, the molecular mechanism of the interaction between <it>Cryptococcus neoformans </it>and HBMEC, relevant to its brain invasion, is still largely unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this report, we explored several cellular and molecular events involving the membrane lipid rafts and caveolin-1 (Cav1) of HBMEC during <it>C. neoformans </it>infection. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to examine the roles of Cav1. The knockdown of Cav1 by the siRNA treatment was performed. Phosphorylation of Cav1 relevant to its invasion functions was investigated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that the host receptor CD44 colocalized with Cav1 on the plasma membrane, and knockdown of Cav1 significantly reduced the fungal ability to invade HBMEC. Although the CD44 molecules were still present, HBMEC membrane organization was distorted by Cav1 knockdown. Concomitantly, knockdown of Cav1 significantly reduced the fungal crossing of the HBMEC monolayer <it>in vitro</it>. Upon <it>C. neoformans </it>engagement, host Cav1 was phosphorylated in a CD44-dependent manner. This phosphorylation was diminished by filipin, a disrupter of lipid raft structure. Furthermore, the phosphorylated Cav1 at the lipid raft migrated inward to the perinuclear localization. Interestingly, the phospho-Cav1 formed a thread-like structure and colocalized with actin filaments but not with the microtubule network.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data support that <it>C. neoformans </it>internalization into HBMEC is a lipid raft/caveolae-dependent endocytic process where the actin cytoskeleton is involved, and the Cav1 plays an essential role in <it>C. neoformans </it>traversal of the blood-brain barrier.</p
Peroxisome-derived lipids regulate adipose thermogenesis by mediating cold-induced mitochondrial fission
MED19 regulates adipogenesis and maintenance of white adipose tissue mass by mediating PPARĪ³-dependent gene expression
The Mediator complex relays regulatory signals from gene-specific transcription factors to the basal transcriptional machinery. However, the role of individual Mediator subunits in different tissues remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that MED19 is essential for adipogenesis and maintenance of white adipose tissue (WAT) by mediating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARĪ³) transcriptional activity. MED19 knockdown blocks white adipogenesis, but not brown adipogenesis or C2C12 myoblast differentiation. Adipose-specific MED19 knockout (KO) in mice results in a striking loss of WAT, whitening of brown fat, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance. Inducible adipose-specific MED19 KO in adult animals also results in lipodystrophy, demonstrating its requirement for WAT maintenance. Global gene expression analysis reveals induction of genes involved in apoptosis and inflammation and impaired expression of adipose-specific genes, resulting from decreased PPARĪ³ residency on adipocyte gene promoters and reduced association of PPARĪ³ with RNA polymerase II. These results identify MED19 as a crucial facilitator of PPARĪ³-mediated gene expression in adipose tissue
Why people search for images using web search engines
What are the intents or goals behind human interactions with image search engines? Knowing why people search for images is of major concern to Web image search engines because user satisfaction may vary as intent varies. Previous analyses of image search behavior have mostly been query-based, focusing on what images people search for, rather than intent-based, that is, why people search for images. To date, there is no thorough investigation of how different image search intents affect users' search behavior. In this paper, we address the following questions: (1) Why do people search for images in text-based Web image search systems? (2) How does image search behavior
Effect of Long-Range Interactions in the Conserved Kardar-Parisi-Zhang Equation
The conserved Kardar-Parisi-Zhang equation in the presence of long-range
nonlinear interactions is studied by the dynamic renormalization group method.
The long-range effect produces new fixed points with continuously varying
exponents and gives distinct phase transitions, depending on both the
long-range interaction strength and the substrate dimension . The long-range
interaction makes the surface width less rough than that of the short-range
interaction. In particular, the surface becomes a smooth one with a negative
roughness exponent at the physical dimension d=2.Comment: 4 pages(LaTex), 1 figure(Postscript
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