3,435 research outputs found
Alexander quandle lower bounds for link genera
We denote by Q_F the family of the Alexander quandle structures supported by
finite fields. For every k-component oriented link L, every partition P of L
into h:=|P| sublinks, and every labelling z of such a partition by the natural
numbers z_1,...,z_n, the number of X-colorings of any diagram of (L,z) is a
well-defined invariant of (L,P), of the form q^(a_X(L,P,z)+1) for some natural
number a_X(L,P,z). Letting X and z vary in Q_F and among the labellings of P,
we define a derived invariant A_Q(L,P)=sup a_X(L,P,z).
If P_M is such that |P_M|=k, we show that A_Q(L,P_M) is a lower bound for
t(L), where t(L) is the tunnel number of L. If P is a "boundary partition" of L
and g(L,P) denotes the infimum among the sums of the genera of a system of
disjoint Seifert surfaces for the L_j's, then we show that A_Q(L,P) is at most
2g(L,P)+2k-|P|-1. We set A_Q(L):=A_Q(L,P_m), where |P_m|=1. By elaborating on a
suitable version of a result by Inoue, we show that when L=K is a knot then
A_Q(K) is bounded above by A(K), where A(K) is the breadth of the Alexander
polynomial of K. However, for every g we exhibit examples of genus-g knots
having the same Alexander polynomial but different quandle invariants A_Q.
Moreover, in such examples A_Q provides sharp lower bounds for the genera of
the knots. On the other hand, A_Q(L) can give better lower bounds on the genus
than A(L), when L has at least two components.
We show that in order to compute A_Q(L) it is enough to consider only
colorings with respect to the constant labelling z=1. In the case when L=K is a
knot, if either A_Q(K)=A(K) or A_Q(K) provides a sharp lower bound for the knot
genus, or if A_Q(K)=1, then A_Q(K) can be realized by means of the proper
subfamily of quandles X=(F_p,*), where p varies among the odd prime numbers.Comment: 36 pages; 16 figure
The NMDA receptor GluN2C subunit controls cortical excitatoryinhibitory balance, neuronal oscillations and cognitive function
Despite strong evidence for NMDA receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction as an underlying factor for cognitive disorders, the precise roles of various NMDAR subtypes remains unknown. The GluN2Ccontaining NMDARs exhibit unique biophysical properties and expression pattern, and lower expression of GluN2C subunit has been reported in postmortem brains from schizophrenia patients. We found that loss of GluN2C subunit leads to a shift in cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance towards greater inhibition. Specifically, pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of GluN2C knockout mice have reduced mEPSC frequency and dendritic spine density and a contrasting higher frequency of mIPSCs. In addition a greater number of perisomatic GAD67 puncta was observed suggesting a potential increase in parvalbumin interneuron inputs. At a network level the GluN2C knockout mice were found to have a more robust increase in power of oscillations in response to NMDAR blocker MK- 801. Furthermore, GluN2C heterozygous and knockout mice exhibited abnormalities in cognition and sensorimotor gating. Our results demonstrate that loss of GluN2C subunit leads to cortical excitatoryinhibitory imbalance and abnormal neuronal oscillations associated with neurodevelopmental disorders
USING TIME SERIES TO STUDY DYNAMICS OF SWEAT RATES OF HOLSTEIN COWS EXPOSED TO INITIAL AND PROLONGED SOLAR HEAT STRESS
Sweating is a very important way for cows to cope with heat stress. We are interested in the ability of Holstein cows to sustain high sweat or evaporation rates when exposed to solar radiation. There were two solar heat stress treatments: onset and prolonged. The onset data provided an opportunity to examine the impact of sudden exposure to a solar thermal load. The prolonged data allowed us to examine the impact of exposure to solar heat stress for an expended period (5 hr). Two questions of interest were: Do cows sweat at a constant or cyclic rate? Is there a difference in the dynamics of the two treatments: onset and prolonged solar heat stress? The data were examined for stationarity. In the time domain, we fit ARIMA models and estimated the parameters. In the frequency domain, we used nonparametric spectral estimation to identify cyclic patterns in the sweat rates. The usefulness of each technique for analyzing the dynamics of sweat rates is discussed
Domestication as innovation : the entanglement of techniques, technology and chance in the domestication of cereal crops
The origins of agriculture involved pathways of domestication in which human behaviours and plant genetic adaptations were entangled. These changes resulted in consequences that were unintended at the start of the process. This paper highlights some of the key innovations in human behaviours, such as soil preparation, harvesting and threshing, and how these were coupled with genetic âinnovationsâ within plant populations. We identify a number of âtrapsâ for early cultivators, including the needs for extra labour expenditure on crop-processing and soil fertility maintenance, but also linked gains in terms of potential crop yields. Compilations of quantitative data across a few different crops for the traits of nonshattering and seed size are discussed in terms of the apparently slow process of domestication, and parallels and differences between different regional pathways are identified. We highlight the need to bridge the gap between a Neolithic archaeobotanical focus on domestication and a focus of later periods on crop-processing activities and labour organization. In addition, archaeobotanical data provide a basis for rethinking previous assumptions about how plant genetic data should be related to the origins of agriculture and we contrast two alternative hypotheses: gradual evolution with low selection pressure versus metastable equilibrium that prolonged the persistence of âsemi-domesticatedâ populations. Our revised understanding of the innovations involved in plant domestication highlight the need for new approaches to collecting, modelling and integrating genetic data and archaeobotanical evidence
Progression of renal cell carcinoma is inhibited by genistein and radiation in an orthotopic model
BACKGROUND: We have previously reported the potentiation of radiotherapy by the soy isoflavone genistein for prostate cancer using prostate tumor cells in vitro and orthotopic prostate tumor models in vivo. However, when genistein was used as single therapy in animal models, it promoted metastasis to regional para-aortic lymph nodes. To clarify whether these intriguing adverse effects of genistein are intrinsic to the orthotopic prostate tumor model, or these results could also be recapitulated in another model, we used the orthotopic metastatic KCI-18 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) model established in our laboratory. METHODS: The KCI-18 RCC cell line was generated from a patient with papillary renal cell carcinoma. Following orthotopic renal implantation of KCI-18 RCC cells and serial in vivo kidney passages in nude mice, we have established a reliable and predictable metastatic RCC tumor model. Mice bearing established kidney tumors were treated with genistein combined with kidney tumor irradiation. The effect of the therapy was assessed on the primary tumor and metastases to various organs. RESULTS: In this experimental model, the karyotype and histological characteristics of the human primary tumor are preserved. Tumor cells metastasize from the primary renal tumor to the lungs, liver and mesentery mimicking the progression of RCC in humans. Treatment of established kidney tumors with genistein demonstrated a tendency to stimulate the growth of the primary kidney tumor and increase the incidence of metastasis to the mesentery lining the bowel. In contrast, when given in conjunction with kidney tumor irradiation, genistein significantly inhibited the growth and progression of established kidney tumors. These findings confirm the potentiation of radiotherapy by genistein in the orthotopic RCC model as previously shown in orthotopic models of prostate cancer. CONCLUSION: Our studies in both RCC and prostate tumor models demonstrate that the combination of genistein with primary tumor irradiation is a more effective and safer therapeutic approach as the tumor growth and progression are inhibited both in the primary and metastatic sites
Entropies, volumes, and Einstein metrics
We survey the definitions and some important properties of several asymptotic
invariants of smooth manifolds, and discuss some open questions related to
them. We prove that the (non-)vanishing of the minimal volume is a
differentiable property, which is not invariant under homeomorphisms. We also
formulate an obstruction to the existence of Einstein metrics on four-manifolds
involving the volume entropy. This generalizes both the Gromov--Hitchin--Thorpe
inequality and Sambusetti's obstruction.Comment: This is a substantial revision and expansion of the 2004 preprint,
which I prepared in spring of 2010 and which has since been published. The
version here is essentially the published one, minus the problems introduced
by Springer productio
1 m long multilayer-coated deformable piezoelectric bimorph mirror for adjustable focusing of high-energy X-rays
The Diamond Light Source (DLS) beamline I15-1 measures atomic pair distribution functions (PDF) using scattering of 40-80 keV X-rays. A unique focusing element was needed to condense these X-rays from an initial large cross section (11.0 mm H Ă 4.2 mm V) into a required spot size of FWHM â680 ÎŒm (H) Ă 20 ÎŒm (V) at a variable position between the sample and the detector. The large numerical aperture is achieved by coating a silicon substrate over 1 m long with three multilayer stripes of Bragg angle 4.2 mrad. One stripe selects X-rays of each energy 40.0, 65.4, and 76.6 keV. Sixteen piezoelectric bimorph actuators attached to the sides of the mirror substrate adjusted the reflecting surfaceâs shape. Focal spots of vertical width < 15 ÎŒm were obtained at three positions over a 0.92 m range, with fast, easy switching from one focal position to another. Minimized root mean square slope errors were close to 0.5 ÎŒrad after subtraction of a uniform curvature. Reflectivity curves taken along each stripe showed consistent high peaks with generally small angular variation of peak positions. This is the first application of a 1 m long multilayercoated bimorph mirror at a synchrotron beamline. Data collected with its help on a slice of a lithium ion batteryâs cathode are presented
Combinatorial nuclear level density by a Monte Carlo method
We present a new combinatorial method for the calculation of the nuclear
level density. It is based on a Monte Carlo technique, in order to avoid a
direct counting procedure which is generally impracticable for high-A nuclei.
The Monte Carlo simulation, making use of the Metropolis sampling scheme,
allows a computationally fast estimate of the level density for many fermion
systems in large shell model spaces. We emphasize the advantages of this Monte
Carlo approach, particularly concerning the prediction of the spin and parity
distributions of the excited states, and compare our results with those derived
from a traditional combinatorial or a statistical method. Such a Monte Carlo
technique seems very promising to determine accurate level densities in a large
energy range for nuclear reaction calculations.Comment: 30 pages, LaTex, 7 figures (6 Postscript figures included). Fig. 6
upon request to the autho
Foreign Intravascular Object Embolization and Migration: Bullets, Catheters, Wires, Stents, Filters, and More
Foreign intravascular object embolization (FIOE) is an important, yet underreported occurrence that has been described in a variety of settings, from penetrating trauma to intravascular procedures. In this chapter, the authors will review the most common types of FIOEs, including bullet or âprojectileâ embolism (BPE), followed by intravascular catheter or wire embolization (ICWE), and conclude with intravascular noncatheter object (e.g., coil, gelatin, stent, and venous filter) migration (INCOM). In addition to detailed topic-based summaries, tables highlighting selected references and case scenarios are also presented to provide the reader with a resource for future research in this clinical area
Sabotage in Contests: A Survey
A contest is a situation in which individuals expend irretrievable resources to win valuable prize(s). âSabotageâ is a deliberate and costly act of damaging a rivalâs' likelihood of winning the contest. Sabotage can be observed in, e.g., sports, war, promotion tournaments, political or marketing campaigns. In this article, we provide a model and various perspectives on such sabotage activities and review the economics literature analyzing the act of sabotage in contests. We discuss the theories and evidence highlighting the means of sabotage, why sabotage occurs, and the effects of sabotage on individual players and on overall welfare, along with possible mechanisms to reduce sabotage. We note that most sabotage activities are aimed at the ablest player, the possibility of sabotage reduces productive effort exerted by the players, and sabotage may lessen the effectiveness of public policies, such as affirmative action, or information revelation in contests. We discuss various policies that a designer may employ to counteract sabotage activities. We conclude by pointing out some areas of future research
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