277 research outputs found
Entropy and Long range correlations in literary English
Recently long range correlations were detected in nucleotide sequences and in
human writings by several authors. We undertake here a systematic investigation
of two books, Moby Dick by H. Melville and Grimm's tales, with respect to the
existence of long range correlations. The analysis is based on the calculation
of entropy like quantities as the mutual information for pairs of letters and
the entropy, the mean uncertainty, per letter. We further estimate the number
of different subwords of a given length . Filtering out the contributions
due to the effects of the finite length of the texts, we find correlations
ranging to a few hundred letters. Scaling laws for the mutual information
(decay with a power law), for the entropy per letter (decay with the inverse
square root of ) and for the word numbers (stretched exponential growth with
and with a power law of the text length) were found.Comment: 8 page
Improved understanding of dynamic water and mass budgets of highâalpine karst systems obtained from studying a wellâdefined catchment area
Large areas of Europe, especially in the Alps, are covered by carbonate rocks and in many alpine regions, karst springs are important sources for drinking water supply. Because of their high variability and heterogeneity, the understanding of the hydrogeological functioning of karst aquifers is of particular importance for their protection and utilisation. Climate change and heavy rainfall events are major challenges in managing alpine karst aquifers which possess an enormous potential for future drinking water supply. In this study, we present research from a highâalpine karst system in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve GroĂes Walsertal in Austria, which has a clearly defined catchment and is drained by only one spring system. Results show that (a) the investigated system is a highly dynamic karst aquifer with distinct reactions to rainfall events in discharge and electrical conductivity; (b) the estimated transient atmospheric CO2 sink is about 270ât/a; (c) the calculated carbonate rock denudation rate is between 23 and 47âmm/1000a and (d) the rainfallâdischarge behaviour and the internal flow dynamics can be successfully simulated using the modelling package KarstMod. The modelling results indicate the relevance of matrix storage in determining the discharge behaviour of the spring, particularly during lowâflow periods. This research and the consequent results can contribute and initiate a better understanding and management of alpine karst aquifers considering climate change with more heavy rainfall events and also longer dry periods.The investigated karst system contributes to the transient atmospheric CO2 sink with about 270ât/a.
Carbonate denudation rates vary between 23 and 47âmm/1000a.
Rainfallâdischarge modelling results indicate the importance of matrix storage particularly during lowâflow periods.
imageBundesministerium fĂźr Bildung und Forschung
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100002347FP7 People: MarieâCurie Actions
http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/10001126
Error threshold in optimal coding, numerical criteria and classes of universalities for complexity
The free energy of the Random Energy Model at the transition point between
ferromagnetic and spin glass phases is calculated. At this point, equivalent to
the decoding error threshold in optimal codes, free energy has finite size
corrections proportional to the square root of the number of degrees. The
response of the magnetization to the ferromagnetic couplings is maximal at the
values of magnetization equal to half. We give several criteria of complexity
and define different universality classes. According to our classification, at
the lowest class of complexity are random graph, Markov Models and Hidden
Markov Models. At the next level is Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass,
connected with neuron-network models. On a higher level are critical theories,
spin glass phase of Random Energy Model, percolation, self organized
criticality (SOC). The top level class involves HOT design, error threshold in
optimal coding, language, and, maybe, financial market. Alive systems are also
related with the last class. A concept of anti-resonance is suggested for the
complex systems.Comment: 17 page
Senicapoc treatment in COVID-19 Patients with Severe Respiratory Insufficiency - A Randomized, Open-Label, Phase II Trial
BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to determine if treatment with senicapoc, improves the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio in patients with COVIDâ19 and severe respiratory insufficiency. METHODS: Investigatorâinitiated, randomized, openâlabel, phase II trial in four intensive care units (ICU) in Denmark. We included patients aged âĽ18âyears and admitted to an ICU with severe respiratory insufficiency due to COVIDâ19. The intervention consisted of 50âmg enteral senicapoc administered as soon as possible after randomization and again after 24âh. Patients in the control group received standard care only. The primary outcome was the PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio at 72âh. RESULTS: Twenty patients were randomized to senicapoc and 26 patients to standard care. Important differences existed in patient characteristics at baseline, including more patients being on nonâinvasive/invasive ventilation in the control group (54% vs. 35%). The median senicapoc concentration at 72âh was 62.1âng/ml (IQR 46.7â71.2). The primary outcome, PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio at 72âh, was significantly lower in the senicapoc group (mean 19.5 kPa, SD 6.6) than in the control group (mean 24.4 kPa, SD 9.2) (mean difference â5.1 kPa [95% CI â10.2, â0.04] p =â.05). The 28âday mortality in the senicapoc group was 2/20 (10%) compared with 6/26 (23%) in the control group (OR 0.36 95% CI 0.06â2.07, p =â.26). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with senicapoc resulted in a significantly lower PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio at 72âh with no differences for other outcomes
Nintedanib targets KIT D816V neoplastic cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of systemic mastocytosis
The KIT D816V mutation is found in >80% of patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM) and is key to neoplastic mast cell (MC) expansion and accumulation in affected organs. Therefore, KIT D816V represents a prime therapeutic target for SM. Here, we generated a panel of patient-specific KIT D816V induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with aggressive SM and mast cell leukemia to develop a patient-specific SM disease model for mechanistic and drug-discovery studies. KIT D816V iPSCs differentiated into neoplastic hematopoietic progenitor cells and MCs with patient-specific phenotypic features, thereby reflecting the heterogeneity of the disease. CRISPR/Cas9n-engineered KIT D816V human embryonic stem cells (ESCs), when differentiated into hematopoietic cells, recapitulated the phenotype observed for KIT D816V iPSC hematopoiesis. KIT D816V causes constitutive activation of the KIT tyrosine kinase receptor, and we exploited our iPSCs and ESCs to investigate new tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting KIT D816V. Our study identified nintedanib, a US Food and Drug Administration-approved angiokinase inhibitor that targets vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor receptor, and fibroblast growth factor receptor, as a novel KIT D816V inhibitor. Nintedanib selectively reduced the viability of iPSC-derived KIT D816V hematopoietic progenitor cells and MCs in the nanomolar range. Nintedanib was also active on primary samples of KIT D816V SM patients. Molecular docking studies show that nintedanib binds to the adenosine triphosphate binding pocket of inactive KIT D816V. Our results suggest nintedanib as a new drug candidate for KIT D816V-targeted therapy of advanced SM.Peer reviewe
Expression and Function of Osteopontin in Vascular Adventitial Fibroblasts and Pathological Vascular Remodeling
Osteopontin is known to play important roles in various diseases including vascular disorders. However, little is known about its expression and function in vascular adventitial fibroblasts. Adventitial fibroblasts have been shown to play a key role in pathological vascular remodeling associating with various vascular disorders. In this study, we measured activation of Osteopontin and its biological functions in cultured adventitial fibroblasts and injured rat carotid injury arteries induced by balloon angioplasty. Our results showed that angiotensin II and aldosterone increased Osteopontin expression in adventitial fibroblasts in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. MAPKs and AP-1 pathways were involved in Osteopontin upregulation. In addition, Adventitial fibroblast migration stimulated by Angiotensin II and aldosterone required OPN expression. Perivascular delivery of antisense oligonucleotide for Osteopontin suppressed neointimal formation post-injury. We concluded that upregulation of Osteopontin expression in adventitial fibroblasts might be important in the pathogenesis of vascular remodeling after arterial injury
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