Ramanujan and Extensions and Contractions of Continued Fractions

If a continued fraction $K_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}/b_{n}$ is known to converge but its limit is not easy to determine, it may be easier to use an extension of $K_{n=1}^{\infty}a_{n}/b_{n}$ to find the limit. By an extension of $K_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}/b_{n}$ we mean a continued fraction $K_{n=1}^{\infty} c_{n}/d_{n}$ whose odd or even part is $K_{n=1}^{\infty} a_{n}/b_{n}$. One can then possibly find the limit in one of three ways: (i) Prove the extension converges and find its limit; (ii) Prove the extension converges and find the limit of the other contraction (for example, the odd part, if $K_{n=1}^{\infty}a_{n}/b_{n}$ is the even part); (ii) Find the limit of the other contraction and show that the odd and even parts of the extension tend to the same limit. We apply these ideas to derive new proofs of certain continued fraction identities of Ramanujan and to prove a generalization of an identity involving the Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction, which was conjectured by Blecksmith and Brillhart.Comment: 16 page

A critical role for ATF2 transcription factor in the regulation of E-selectin expression in response to non-endotoxin components of Neisseria meningitidis

Vascular injury is a serious complication of sepsis due to the gram-negative bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. One of the critical early steps in initiating this injury is via the interaction of leucocytes, particularly neutrophils, with adhesion molecules expressed on inflamed endothelium. We have previously demonstrated that both lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and non-LPS components of meningococci can induce very high levels of expression of the vascular endothelial cell adhesion molecule E-selectin, which is critical for early tethering and capture of neutrophils onto endothelium under flow. Using an LPS-deficient strain of meningococcus, we showed that very high levels of expression can be induced in primary endothelial cells, even in the context of weak activation of the major host signal transduction factor [nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)]. In this study, we show that the particular propensity for N. meningitidis to induce high levels of expression is regulated at a transcriptional level, and demonstrate a significant role for phosphorylation of the ATF2 transcription factor, likely via mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, on the activity of the E-selectin promoter. Furthermore, inhibition of E-selectin expression in response to the lpxA- strain by a p38 inhibitor indicates a significant role of a p38-dependent MAPK signalling pathway in ATF2 activation. Collectively, these data highlight the role that LPS and other bacterial components have in modulating endothelial function and their involvement in the pathogenesis of meningococcal sepsis. Better understanding of these multiple mechanisms induced by complex stimuli such as bacteria, and the specific inflammatory pathways they activate, may lead to improved, focused interventions in both meningococcal and potentially bacterial sepsis more generally

Spin injection between epitaxial Co2.4Mn1.6Ga and an InGaAs quantum well

Electrical spin injection in a narrow [100] In0.2Ga0.8As quantum well in a GaAs p-i-n optical device is reported. The quantum well is located 300 nm from an AlGaAs Schottky barrier and this system is used to compare the efficiencies and temperature dependences of spin injection from Fe and the Heusler alloy Co2.4Mn1.6Ga grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. At 5 K, the injected electron spin polarizations for Fe and Co2.4Mn1.6Ga injectors are 31% and 13%, respectively. Optical detection is carried out in the oblique Hanle geometry. A dynamic nuclear polarization effect below 10 K enhances the magnetic field seen by the injected spins in both devices. The Co2.4Mn1.6Ga thin films are found to have a transport spin polarization of similar to 50% by point contact Andreev reflection conductivity measurements. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics

Specific Immunity to Cytomegalovirus in Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is implicated in endothelial dysfunction and graft damage after pediatric heart transplantation. CMV specific immune responses are thought to be necessary for CMV viral control but there is little data in pediatric heart transplantation. METHODS: We studied 28 consecutive pediatric heart transplant recipients for 1-year posttransplant. CMV-specific T cells expressing IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 in response to ex-vivo stimulation with CMV lysates or peptides were measured. Circulating cytokines were measured in plasma. Generalised Additive Models were applied to the data to model changes of cell population dynamics over time. RESULTS: CMV-specific T cell mediated responses were impaired in the first 8 weeks posttransplant. During this period, 25% of patients had CMV viremia, of which those with viral loads ≥10,000 CMV DNA copies/mL were given ganciclovir. In this group, the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN-γ and the CD8+CD57+GB+ T cell population increased at 12-24 weeks and remained elevated for the duration of the study. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that CMV viremia is associated with CMV specific immune responses and increased CD8+CD57+GB+ cells at 1-year posttransplant, however early responses were not predictive of impending CMV viremia. It remains to be seen if the early CMV immune response detected is associated with endothelial and allograft damage, in light of previous studies demonstrating increased vasculopathy in pediatric patients with CMV viremia

Hsp21potentiates antifungal drug tolerance in Candida albicans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Cellular responses of Candida albicans to phagocytosis and the extracellular activities of neutrophils are critical to counteract carbohydrate starvation, oxidative and nitrosative stress

Acknowledgments We thank Alexander Johnson (yhb1D/D), Karl Kuchler (sodD/D mutants), Janet Quinn (hog1D/D, hog1/cap1D/D, trx1D/D) and Peter Staib (ssu1D/D) for providing mutant strains. We acknowledge helpful discussions with our colleagues from the Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms Department, Fungal Septomics and the Microbial Biochemistry and Physiology Research Group at the Hans Kno¨ll Institute (HKI), specially Ilse D. Jacobsen, Duncan Wilson, Sascha Brunke, Lydia Kasper, Franziska Gerwien, Sea´na Duggan, Katrin Haupt, Kerstin Hu¨nniger, and Matthias Brock, as well as from our partners in the FINSysB Network. Author Contributions Conceived and designed the experiments: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Performed the experiments: PM CD HW. Analyzed the data: PM HW IMB AJPB OK BH. Wrote the paper: PM HW OK AJPB BH.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Magnetically induced metal-insulator transition in Pb2CaOsO6

We report on the structural, magnetic, and electronic properties of two new double-perovskites synthesized under high pressure, Pb2CaOsO6 and Pb2ZnOsO6. Upon cooling below 80 K, Pb2CaOsO6 simultaneously undergoes a metal-to-insulator transition and develops antiferromagnetic order. Pb2ZnOsO6, on the other hand, remains a paramagnetic metal down to 2 K. The key difference between the two compounds lies in their crystal structures. The Os atoms in Pb2ZnOsO6 are arranged on an approximately face-centered cubic lattice with strong antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor exchange couplings. The geometrical frustration inherent to this lattice prevents magnetic order from forming down to the lowest temperatures. In contrast, the unit cell of Pb2CaOsO6 is heavily distorted up to at least 500 K including antiferroelectriclike displacements of the Pb and O atoms despite metallic conductivity above 80 K. This distortion relieves the magnetic frustration, facilitating magnetic order which, in turn, drives the metal-insulator transition. Our results suggest that the phase transition in Pb2CaOsO6 is spin driven and could be a rare example of a Slater transition

Small but crucial : the novel small heat shock protein Hsp21 mediates stress adaptation and virulence in Candida albicans

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Left-handed color-sextet diquark in Kaon system

We investigate whether a color-sextet scalar diquark (${\bf H}_6$) coupling to the left-handed quarks contributes to the $\Delta S=2$ process. It is found that the box diagrams mediated by $W$ and ${\bf H}_6$ bosons have no contributions to $\Delta S=2$ when the limit of $m_t=0$ is used, and the flavor mixing matrices for diagonalizing quark mass matrices are introduced at the same time. When the heavy top-quark mass effects are taken into account, it is found that in addition to the $W-{\bf H}_6$ box diagrams significantly contributing to $\Delta S=2$, their effects can be as large as those from the ${\bf H}_6-{\bf H}_6$ box diagrams. Using the parameters that are constrained by the $K^0-\bar K^0$ mixing parameter $\Delta M_K$ and the Kaon indirect CP violation $\epsilon_K$, we find that the left-handed color-sextet diquark can lead to the Kaon direct CP violation being $Re(\epsilon'/\epsilon) \sim 0.4 \times 10^{-3}$. In the chosen scheme, although the diquark contribution to $K_L\to \pi^0 \nu \bar\nu$ is small, the branching ratio of $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar\nu$ can reach the current experimental upper bound.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

A novel human skin chamber model to study wound infection ex vivo

Wound infections with multi-drug resistant bacteria increase morbidity and mortality and have considerable socioeconomic impact. They can lead to impaired wound healing, resulting in rising treatment costs. The aim of this study was to investigate an ex vivo human wound infection model. Human full-thickness skin from the operating room (OR) was placed into the Bo-Drum® and cultivated for 7 days in an air–liquid interphase. On day 8, the skin was inoculated with either (1) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (2) Staphylococcus aureus (105 CFU, n = 3) or (3) carrier control. 1, 3 and 7 days after inoculation colony forming units in the tissue/media were determined and cytokine expression was quantified. A reliable and reproducible wound infection could be established for 7 days. At this timepoint, 1.8 × 108 CFU/g tissue of P. aeruginosa and 2 × 107 CFU/g tissue of S. aureus were detected. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated bacterial infection and epidermolysis in infected skin. RT-PCR analysis exhibited a significant induction of proinflammatory cytokines after infection. The BO-drum® is a robust, easy-to-use, sterilizable and reusable ex vivo full-skin culture system. For investigation of wound infection, treatment and healing, the BO-drum® presents a convenient model and may help to standardize wound research