4,303 research outputs found
Free-form lens model and mass estimation of the high redshift galaxy cluster ACT-CL J0102-4915, "El Gordo"
We examine the massive colliding cluster El Gordo, one of the most massive
clusters at high redshift. We use a free-form lensing reconstruction method
that avoids making assumptions about the mass distribution. We use data from
the RELICS program and identify new multiply lensed system candidates. The new
set of constraints and free-form method provides a new independent mass
estimate of this intriguing colliding cluster. Our results are found to be
consistent with earlier parametric models, indirectly confirming the
assumptions made in earlier work. By fitting a double gNFW profile to the lens
model, and extrapolating to the virial radius, we infer a total mass for the
cluster of M. We
estimate the uncertainty in the mass due to errors in the photometric
redshifts, and discuss the uncertainty in the inferred virial mass due to the
extrapolation from the lens model. We also find in our lens map a mass
overdensity corresponding to the large cometary tail of hot gas, reinforcing
its interpretation as a large tidal feature predicted by hydrodynamical
simulations that mimic El Gordo. Finally, we discuss the observed relation
between the plasma and the mass map, finding that the peak in the projected
mass map may be associated with a large concentration of colder gas, exhibiting
possible star formation. El Gordo is one of the first clusters that will be
observed with JWST, which is expected to unveil new high redshift lensed
galaxies around this interesting cluster, and provide a more accurate
estimation of its mass.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures. Updated figure
Prehospital therapeutic hypothermia induced with cold infusions improves haemodynamic stability in nonshockable cardiac arrest patients
Assessment of processing technologies which may improve the nutritional composition of dairy products – Overview of progress
Among consumers there is a growing demand for food products with a natural nutritional-physiological advantage over comparable conventional products. As part of an EU funded project, ALP is examining the possible impact of processing on nutritionally valuable milk components, using the example of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA). The extent to which processing influences the CLA content of the end product was determined by literature research and own investigations of organic and conventional butter. Furthermore, new chemical, sensory-based and bio crystallization methods were evaluated by ALP and the University of Kassel to determine the oxidation stability of butter. In a further step the storage stability of CLA enriched and conventional butter was examined and the different methods will be compared. As a third objective a process for low-input CLA enrichment of milk fat (with a focus on alpine butter) has been developed. Since the process selected for the work is a physical enrichment process, it is accepted by international organic farming and food groups. Among the many benefits ascribed to CLA, it is believed to be an effective agent against cancer. The demand for foods with properties that promote human health is growing. The dairy industry has the opportunity to meet this demand by developing new dairy products with a nutritional-physiological function for the functional food market
A Transcriptomal Analysis of Bovine Oviductal Epithelial Cells Collected During the Follicular Phase Versus the Luteal Phase of the Estrous Cycle
BACKGROUND: Reproductive success depends on a functional oviduct for gamete storage, maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development. The ovarian-derived steroids estrogen and progesterone are key regulators of oviductal function. The objective of this study was to investigate luteal and follicular phase-specific oviductal epithelial cell function by using microarray-based transcriptional profiling, to increase our understanding of mRNAs regulating epithelial cell processes, and to identify novel genes and biochemical pathways that may be found to affect fertility in the future.
METHODS: Six normally cycling Angus heifers were assigned to either luteal phase (LP, n = 3) or follicular phase (FP, n = 3) treatment groups. Heifers in the LP group were killed between day 11 and 12 after estrus. Heifers in the FP group were treated with 25 mg PGF2α (Lutalyse, Pfizer, NY) at 8 pm on day 6 after estrus and killed 36 h later. Transcriptional profiling by microarray and confirmation of selected mRNAs by real-time RT-PCR analyses was performed using total RNA from epithelial cells isolated from sections of the ampulla and isthmus collected from LP and FP treatment groups. Differentially expressed genes were subjected to gene ontology classification and bioinformatic pathway analyses.
RESULTS: Statistical one-way ANOVA using Benjamini-hochberg multiple testing correction for false discovery rate (FDR) and pairwise comparison of epithelial cells in the ampulla of FP versus LP groups revealed 972 and 597 transcripts up- and down-regulated, respectively (P \u3c 0.05). Within epithelial cells of the isthmus in FP versus LP groups, 946 and 817 transcripts were up- and down-regulated, respectively (P \u3c 0.05). Up-regulated genes from both ampulla and isthmus were found to be largely involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and cell cycle pathways, while down-regulated genes were found in numerous inflammatory response pathways.
CONCLUSIONS: Microarray-based transcriptional profiling revealed phase of the cycle-dependent changes in the expression of mRNA within the epithelium of the oviducts\u27 ampulla and isthmus
Statistical mechanics of a single particle in a multiscale random potential: Parisi landscapes in finite dimensional Euclidean spaces
We construct a N-dimensional Gaussian landscape with multiscale, translation
invariant, logarithmic correlations and investigate the statistical mechanics
of a single particle in this environment. In the limit of high dimension N>>1
the free energy of the system and overlap function are calculated exactly using
the replica trick and Parisi's hierarchical ansatz. In the thermodynamic limit,
we recover the most general version of the Derrida's Generalized Random Energy
Model (GREM). The low-temperature behaviour depends essentially on the spectrum
of length scales involved in the construction of the landscape. If the latter
consists of K discrete values, the system is characterized by a K-step Replica
Symmetry Breaking solution. We argue that our construction is in fact valid in
any finite spatial dimensions . We discuss implications of our results
for the singularity spectrum describing multifractality of the associated
Boltzmann-Gibbs measure. Finally we discuss several generalisations and open
problems, the dynamics in such a landscape and the construction of a
Generalized Multifractal Random Walk.Comment: 25 pages, published version with a few misprints correcte
Breast cancer: Pretreatment drug resistance parameters (GSH-system, ATase, P-glycoprotein) in tumor tissue and their correlation with clinical and prognostic characteristics
Background: The identification of new factors predicting relapse, outcome and response to systemic therapy in breast cancer is warranted. The measurement of biological markers such as drug resistance parameters (DRPs), which are part of the phenotype of malignant cells and contribute to resistance to anti-cancer drugs may be a possibility, which may ultimately lead to improvement of therapeutic results. Patients and methods: The level of glutathione (GSH), activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione-peroxidase (GPx), 06-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (ATase), and P-glycoprotein (PGP) were measured in tumor and adjacent tumor free tissue samples from 89 consecutive, untreated females with breast cancer and correlated with clinical and prognostic factors. Early breast cancer (EBC) was diagnosed in 56 patients, 22 patients had locally advanced (LABC) and 11 patients metastatic breast cancer. Results: All DRPs showed significantly higher expression in tumor than in tumor free tissues. GPx was positively correlated with GST (r = 0.3, P = 0.0048) and with GSH (r = 0.5, P = 0.0001) in tumor as well as in normal tissue. GST activity was significantly higher in EBC than in LABC or metastatic breast cancer (P = 0.02). GSH level was significantly higher in grade I than in grade 2 or grade 3 tumors (P = 0.01). When clinical characteristics were related to the level of DRP, ‘high' GSH was associated with age >60 years (P = 0.01) in EBC, and with grade 1-2 tumors (P = 0.05) in LABC. No differences in OS were apparent between groups of ‘high' and ‘low' DRP-expression. However, the four-year estimated disease-free survival of EBC tended to be higher in patients with ‘high' GST (P = 0.10) and of LABC in patients with ‘high' GPx levels (P = 0.06). Conclusion: We conclude that ‘high' levels of DRP in tumor tissue of breast cancer patients are part of the initial phenotype of the malignant cells. Due to its high prevalence (83% in EBC, 100% in primarily metastatic breast cancer), PGP did not add to prognostic information. High levels of GSH, GST and and GPx were associated with favorable clinical characteristics and good prognosis, whereas low levels of GSH and GST activity were associated with more aggressive or more advanced diseas
Primary cervical malignant teratoma with a rib metastasis in an adult: Five-year survival after surgery and chemotherapy: A case report with a review of the literature
We report a case of a man presenting with a cervical malignant teratoma and a chondrosarcomatous rib metastasis. He was alive and free of recurrence five years and 10 months (= 70 months) after resection of the primary mass, followed by chemotherapy and subsequent resection of the rib tumor. This is the 35th patient reported in the literature and the first description in which an ‘adjuvant' or primary chemotherapy was used. Previous patients with a cervical malignant teratoma, reported after lethal outcome, had survivals of one to 22 months (median nine months). In all patients with a preoperative clinical impression of an aggressive, differentiated or undifferentiated malignancy, the definite diagnosis of teratoma could only be made histologically. By analogy to germ cell tumors, the prognosis of malignant teratoma might be improved if complete excision is combined with new, adjuvant chemotherapy protocols for germ cell tumors. Lessons learned from this case are placed in the context of germ cell tumors in general and of non-gonadal malignant teratomas in particula
Estrogen Receptor Alpha (ESR1)-Dependent Regulation of the Mouse Oviductal Transcriptome
Estrogen receptor-α (ESR1) is an important transcriptional regulator in the mammalian oviduct, however ESR1-dependent regulation of the transcriptome of this organ is not well defined, especially at the genomic level. The objective of this study was therefore to investigate estradiol- and ESR1-dependent regulation of the transcriptome of the oviduct using transgenic mice, both with (ESR1KO) and without (wild-type, WT) a global deletion of ESR1. Oviducts were collected from ESR1KO and WT littermates at 23 days of age, or ESR1KO and WT mice were treated with 5 IU PMSG to stimulate follicular development and the production of ovarian estradiol, and the oviducts collected 48 h later. RNA extracted from whole oviducts was hybridized to Affymetrix Genechip Mouse Genome 430–2.0 arrays (n = 3 arrays per genotype and treatment) or reverse transcribed to cDNA for analysis of the expression of selected mRNAs by real-time PCR. Following microarray analysis, a statistical two-way ANOVA and pairwise comparison (LSD test) revealed 2428 differentially expressed transcripts (DEG’s, P \u3c 0.01). Genotype affected the expression of 2215 genes, treatment (PMSG) affected the expression of 465 genes, and genotype x treatment affected the expression of 438 genes. With the goal of determining estradiol/ESR1-regulated function, gene ontology (GO) and bioinformatic pathway analyses were performed on DEG’s in the oviducts of PMSG-treated ESR1KO versus PMSG-treated WT mice. Significantly enriched GO molecular function categories included binding and catalytic activity. Significantly enriched GO cellular component categories indicated the extracellular region. Significantly enriched GO biological process categories involved a single organism, modulation of a measurable attribute and developmental processes. Bioinformatic analysis revealed ESR1-regulation of the immune response within the oviduct as the primary canonical pathway. In summary, a transcriptomal profile of estradiol- and ESR1-regulated gene expression and related bioinformatic analysis is presented to increase our understanding of how estradiol/ESR1 affects function of the oviduct, and to identify genes that may be proven as important regulators of fertility in the future
Bootstrapping Conditional GANs for Video Game Level Generation
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) have shown im-pressive results for
image generation. However, GANs facechallenges in generating contents with
certain types of con-straints, such as game levels. Specifically, it is
difficult togenerate levels that have aesthetic appeal and are playable atthe
same time. Additionally, because training data usually islimited, it is
challenging to generate unique levels with cur-rent GANs. In this paper, we
propose a new GAN architec-ture namedConditional Embedding Self-Attention
Genera-tive Adversarial Network(CESAGAN) and a new bootstrap-ping training
procedure. The CESAGAN is a modification ofthe self-attention GAN that
incorporates an embedding fea-ture vector input to condition the training of
the discriminatorand generator. This allows the network to model
non-localdependency between game objects, and to count objects. Ad-ditionally,
to reduce the number of levels necessary to trainthe GAN, we propose a
bootstrapping mechanism in whichplayable generated levels are added to the
training set. Theresults demonstrate that the new approach does not only
gen-erate a larger number of levels that are playable but also gen-erates fewer
duplicate levels compared to a standard GAN
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