Potential and mass-matrix in gauged N=4 supergravity

We discuss the potential and mass-matrix of gauged N=4 matter coupled supergravity for the case of six matter multiplets, extending previous work by considering the dependence on all scalars. We consider all semi-simple gauge groups and analyse the potential and its first and second derivatives in the origin of the scalar manifold. Although we find in a number of cases an extremum with a positive cosmological constant, these are not stable under fluctuations of all scalar fields.Comment: 28 pages, LaTe

Effect of Terbinafine on the Pharmacokinetics of Cyclosporin in Humans

Cyclosporin is largely metabolized by hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes, and azole drugs that inhibit cytochrome P450 may precipitate cyclosporin toxicity. The allylamine terbinafine binds to a small subfraction of hepatic cytochrome P450 in type I fashion, and has no effect upon hepatic metabolism of cyclosporin in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine whether oral terbinafine alters the pharmacokinetics of oral cyclosporin in vivo.Twenty male volunteers (age 19–44 years), were randomly allocated to two groups. The first group received three single oral doses of cyclosporin 300mg at intervals of 21 d. The second and third doses of cyclosporin were preceded by a 6-d course of oral terbinafine 250mg each morning. A further 250mg of terbinafine was taken with the second and third doses of cyclosporin. Blood levels of cyclosporin and terbinafine were monitored for 36h after each dose. The second group received a 7-d course of terbinafine 250mg each morning. On the seventh day a single dose of cyclosporin 300mg was taken together with the terbinafine. Blood levels of both cyclosporin and terbinafine were monitored for 36kh. Two further single doses of cyclosporin 300mg were given at intervals of 2 weeks and the cyclosporin levels again monitored. In both groups each cyclosporin dose was preceded by an 8-h fast.The mean peak blood concentration of cyclosporin when taken alone was 958 μg/I, and 822 when taken with terbinafine. The mean area under the curve for cyclosporin was 4207 μg/l/h when taken alone and 3665 when taken with terbinafine. The mean absorption half-life for cyclosporin when taken alone was 0.29 h, and 0.33 when taken with terbinafine. The mean time of maximum concentration and elimination half-life of cyclosporin were unaltered by terbinafine. The results suggest that terbinafine is likely to prove a safe systemic anti-fungal treatment for patients who are taking cyclosporin

Sugar-sweetened beverage consumption may modify associations between genetic variants in the CHREBP (carbohydrate responsive element binding protein) locus and HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and triglyceride concentrations

BACKGROUND: ChREBP (carbohydrate responsive element binding protein) is a transcription factor that responds to sugar consumption. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and genetic variants in the CHREBP locus have separately been linked to HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and triglyceride concentrations. We hypothesized that SSB consumption would modify the association between genetic variants in the CHREBP locus and dyslipidemia.METHODS: Data from 11 cohorts from the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology consortium (N=63599) and the UK Biobank (N=59220) were used to quantify associations of SSB consumption, genetic variants, and their interaction on HDL-C and triglyceride concentrations using linear regression models. A total of 1606 single nucleotide polymorphisms within or near CHREBP were considered. SSB consumption was estimated from validated questionnaires, and participants were grouped by their estimated intake.RESULTS: In a meta-analysis, rs71556729 was significantly associated with higher HDL-C concentrations only among the highest SSB consumers (beta, 2.12 [95% CI, 1.16-3.07] mg/dL per allele; P<0.0001), but not significantly among the lowest SSB consumers (P=0.81; P-Diff<0.0001). Similar results were observed for 2 additional variants (rs35709627 and rs71556736). For triglyceride, rs55673514 was positively associated with triglyceride concentrations only among the highest SSB consumers (beta, 0.06 [95% CI, 0.02-0.09] In-mg/dL per allele, P=0.001) but not the lowest SSB consumers (P=0.84; P-Diff=0.0005).CONCLUSIONS: Our results identified genetic variants in the CHREBP locus that may protect against SSB-associated reductions in HDL-C and other variants that may exacerbate SSB-associated increases in triglyceride concentrations.Clinical epidemiolog

The Influence of Age and Sex on Genetic Associations with Adult Body Size and Shape : A Large-Scale Genome-Wide Interaction Study

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified more than 100 genetic variants contributing to BMI, a measure of body size, or waist-to-hip ratio (adjusted for BMI, WHRadjBMI), a measure of body shape. Body size and shape change as people grow older and these changes differ substantially between men and women. To systematically screen for age-and/or sex-specific effects of genetic variants on BMI and WHRadjBMI, we performed meta-analyses of 114 studies (up to 320,485 individuals of European descent) with genome-wide chip and/or Metabochip data by the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium. Each study tested the association of up to similar to 2.8M SNPs with BMI and WHRadjBMI in four strata (men 50y, women 50y) and summary statistics were combined in stratum-specific meta-analyses. We then screened for variants that showed age-specific effects (G x AGE), sex-specific effects (G x SEX) or age-specific effects that differed between men and women (G x AGE x SEX). For BMI, we identified 15 loci (11 previously established for main effects, four novel) that showed significant (FDR= 50y). No sex-dependent effects were identified for BMI. For WHRadjBMI, we identified 44 loci (27 previously established for main effects, 17 novel) with sex-specific effects, of which 28 showed larger effects in women than in men, five showed larger effects in men than in women, and 11 showed opposite effects between sexes. No age-dependent effects were identified for WHRadjBMI. This is the first genome-wide interaction meta-analysis to report convincing evidence of age-dependent genetic effects on BMI. In addition, we confirm the sex-specificity of genetic effects on WHRadjBMI. These results may providefurther insights into the biology that underlies weight change with age or the sexually dimorphism of body shape.Peer reviewe

Solid phase crystallisation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon deposited by ETPCVD on glass

Generation of electricity using renewable energy sources is becoming an integral part of the electrical energy mix. A substantial fraction of the electrical energy is foreseen to be generated by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells that directly convert light into electricity. Large scale application of building integrated PV is envisaged to aid the integration of renewable energy in our society, both from a practical and an aesthetic point of view. For implementation of large-scale PV preferably abundant and non-toxic materials are required as well as production processes for making the solar cells in large quantities [1]. For this purpose silicon is the most preferred element, because of its properties for application in solar cells and because of its abundance, despite the fact that refining and doping of Si are dependant on toxic materials [2]

Joining and mechanical behaviour of poly-crystalline silicon solar cells

The most advanced production lines for H-pattern poly-crystalline solar cells use wafers of less than 200 micron thickness. The reason for this development is the cost reduction that can be achieved by reducing the amount of silicon required. Unfortunately, the cells produced from thinner wafers suffer from bowing. The extent of bowing and the delicacy of the cells are problems for the building of modules from cells thinner than 200 micron. In this report the origin and extent of bowing is examined for wafers and cells of different thicknesses, by analysis at several stages in the production cycle. Not only the production of the cells is taken into account. A functioning solar panel requires cells that will have a good performance for 20 years. To realise such long lifetimes, the damage induced by the production process should be minimal. In several steps of the production, stress and possible damage is introduced. The presence of surface cracks at several stages was examined by microscopy for this purpose. The presence of microcracks in soldered solar cells was studied using acoustic emission monitoring. Four point bending experiments of cells taken from different stages of the production process were also monitored by acoustic emission. Surface cracks have not been observed and the presence of microcracks after soldering could not be confirmed in this research, although acoustic emission. measurements imply the possibility of their propagation or initiation during soldering. Losses in the production process did not occur during the soldering of the cells, but in production steps preceding soldering. The research shows that the bowing is caused primarily by the addition and more specifically the thermal contraction of the aluminium underside of the solar cells. Bowing increases as the thickness of the cell decreases and the experimental fracture strength of the cells and wafers reduces as the thickness reduces. The weakest area of the solar cells appears to be the transition between aluminium and silver on the rear of the cell. This work reports on a preliminary research study, which will be followed-up by a more detailed graduate study. ECN is currently working on poly-crystalline cells with an open underside. These cells, even thinner ones, should have a higher fracture stress, than those with an aluminium layer.Joining and Mechanical BehaviourMaterials Science and EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin

Solid phase crystallisation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon deposited by ETPCVD on glass

Generation of electricity using renewable energy sources is becoming an integral part of the electrical energy mix. A substantial fraction of the electrical energy is foreseen to be generated by photovoltaic (PV) solar cells that directly convert light into electricity. Large scale application of building integrated PV is envisaged to aid the integration of renewable energy in our society, both from a practical and an aesthetic point of view. For implementation of large-scale PV preferably abundant and non-toxic materials are required as well as production processes for making the solar cells in large quantities [1]. For this purpose silicon is the most preferred element, because of its properties for application in solar cells and because of its abundance, despite the fact that refining and doping of Si are dependant on toxic materials [2].Photovoltaic Materials and Device

Didymoglossum kraussii

Pteridophyte

Tetrameranthus (Annonaceae) revisited including a new species

The taxonomic revision of the infrequently collected genus Tetrameranthus by Westra (1985) is updated. A new species is described from French Guiana and Amapá, Brazil, increasing the number of species in this genus to seven