814 research outputs found
Barentsz is essential for the posterior localization of oskar mRNA and colocalizes with it to the posterior pole
The localization of Oskar at the posterior pole of the Drosophila oocyte induces the assembly of the pole plasm and therefore defines where the abdomen and germ cells form in the embryo. This localization is achieved by the targeting of oskar mRNA to the posterior and the localized activation of its translation. oskar mRNA seems likely to be actively transported along microtubules, since its localization requires both an intact microtubule cytoskeleton and the plus end–directed motor kinesin I, but nothing is known about how the RNA is coupled to the motor. Here, we describe barentsz, a novel gene required for the localization of oskar mRNA. In contrast to all other mutations that disrupt this process, barentsz-null mutants completely block the posterior localization of oskar mRNA without affecting bicoid and gurken mRNA localization, the organization of the microtubules, or subsequent steps in pole plasm assembly. Surprisingly, most mutant embryos still form an abdomen, indicating that oskar mRNA localization is partially redundant with the translational control. Barentsz protein colocalizes to the posterior with oskar mRNA, and this localization is oskar mRNA dependent. Thus, Barentsz is essential for the posterior localization of oskar mRNA and behaves as a specific component of the oskar RNA transport complex
Liver fat in adults with GH deficiency: comparison to matched controls and the effect of GH replacement
CONTEXT:
Existing data regarding the association between growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and liver fat content are conflicting.
OBJECTIVE:
We aimed i) to assess intrahepatocellular lipid (IHCL) content in hypopituitary adults with GHD compared to matched controls and ii) to evaluate the effect of growth hormone (GH) replacement on IHCL content.
DESIGN:
Cross-sectional comparison and controlled intervention study.
PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS:
Cross-sectional comparison: 22 hypopituitary adults with GHD and 44 healthy controls matched for age, BMI, gender and ethnicity. Intervention study: 9 GHD patients starting GH replacement (GH Rx group), 9 GHD patients not starting replacement therapy (non-GH Rx group).
INTERVENTION:
Intervention study:GH replacement for 6 months in the GH Rx group, dosage was titrated to achieve normal IGF-1 levels.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
IHCL content determined by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H MRS).
RESULTS:
Cross-sectional comparison: There was no difference in IHCL content between GHD patients and healthy controls (1.89% (0.30, 4.03) vs. 1.14% (0.22, 2.32); p=0.2), the prevalence of patients with hepatic steatosis (IHCL of ≥ 5.56%) was similar in the two groups (22.7% vs. 15.9%; chi square probability = 0.4). Intervention study: The change in IHCL content over 6 months did not differ between the GH Rx group and the non-GH Rx group (-0.63 ± 4.53% vs. +0.11 ± 1.46%; p=0.6).
CONCLUSIONS:
In our study liver fat content and the prevalence of hepatic steatosis did not differ between hypopituitary adults with GHD and matched controls. In GHD patients GH replacement had no effect on liver fat content
Geometrothermodynamics of black holes
The thermodynamics of black holes is reformulated within the context of the
recently developed formalism of geometrothermodynamics. This reformulation is
shown to be invariant with respect to Legendre transformations, and to allow
several equivalent representations. Legendre invariance allows us to explain a
series of contradictory results known in the literature from the use of
Weinhold's and Ruppeiner's thermodynamic metrics for black holes. For the
Reissner-Nordstr\"om black hole the geometry of the space of equilibrium states
is curved, showing a non trivial thermodynamic interaction, and the curvature
contains information about critical points and phase transitions. On the
contrary, for the Kerr black hole the geometry is flat and does not explain its
phase transition structure.Comment: Revised version, to be published in Gen.Rel.Grav.(Mashhoon's
Festschrift
Tensionless structure of glassy phase
We study a class of homogeneous finite-dimensional Ising models which were
recently shown to exhibit glassy properties. Monte Carlo simulations of a
particular three-dimensional model in this class show that the glassy phase
obtained under slow cooling is dominated by large scale excitations whose
energy scales with their size as with
. Simulations suggest that in another model of this class,
namely the four-spin model, energy is concentrated mainly in linear defects
making also in this case domain walls tensionless. Two-dimensinal variants of
these models are trivial and energy of excitations scales with the exponent
.Comment: 5 page
Flat Information Geometries in Black Hole Thermodynamics
The Hessian of either the entropy or the energy function can be regarded as a
metric on a Gibbs surface. For two parameter families of asymptotically flat
black holes in arbitrary dimension one or the other of these metrics are flat,
and the state space is a flat wedge. The mathematical reason for this is traced
back to the scale invariance of the Einstein-Maxwell equations. The picture of
state space that we obtain makes some properties such as the occurence of
divergent specific heats transparent.Comment: 14 pages, one figure. Dedicated to Rafael Sorkin's birthda
Assessing the impact of the physical properties of industrially produced carbon nanotubes on their interaction with human primary macrophages in vitro
Currently it is not fully understood how carbon nanotubes (CNTs) may affect human health. Despite this, CNTs are produced at a tonne mass scale yearly. Due to their large production and intended use within a variety of applications it is imperative that a clear understanding of the hazard potential of CNTs is gained. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the impact of five different industrially produced CNTs which varied in their physical properties on the viability of human monocyte derived macrophages (MDM), and subsequently, at sub-lethal concentrations (0.005-0.02 mg/mL), their ability to cause oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory response in these important immune cells over a 24-h period. None of the CNTs caused significant cytotoxicity up to 0.02 mg/mL after 24 h. Only the long multi-walled CNTs (MWNCTs) caused a significant, dose-dependent (0.005-0.02 mg/mL) reactive oxygen species production, whilst bundled MWCNTs showed a significant tumor necrosis factor alpha release after 24 h exposure at 0.02 mg/mL. No effects were observed for either tangled MWCNTs or short MWCNTs. It can be concluded from the findings of the present study that the industrially produced CNTs studied can cause hazardous effects in vitro that may be associated with their physical propertie
Statistical ensemble of scale-free random graphs
A thorough discussion of the statistical ensemble of scale-free connected
random tree graphs is presented. Methods borrowed from field theory are used to
define the ensemble and to study analytically its properties. The ensemble is
characterized by two global parameters, the fractal and the spectral
dimensions, which are explicitly calculated. It is discussed in detail how the
geometry of the graphs varies when the weights of the nodes are modified. The
stability of the scale-free regime is also considered: when it breaks down,
either a scale is spontaneously generated or else, a "singular" node appears
and the graphs become crumpled. A new computer algorithm to generate these
random graphs is proposed. Possible generalizations are also discussed. In
particular, more general ensembles are defined along the same lines and the
computer algorithm is extended to arbitrary (degenerate) scale-free random
graphs.Comment: 10 pages, 6 eps figures, 2-column revtex format, minor correction
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