Conditions for Generic Initial Ideals to be Almost Reverse Lexicographic

Let $I$ be a homogeneous Artinian ideal in a polynomial ring $R=k[x_1,...,x_n]$ over a field $k$ of characteristic 0. We study an equivalent condition for the generic initial ideal \gin(I) with respect to reverse lexicographic order to be almost reverse lexicographic. As a result, we show that Moreno-Socias conjecture implies Fr\"{o}berg conjecture. And for the case \Codim I \le 3, we show that $R/I$ has the strong Lefschetz property if and only if \gin(I) is almost reverse lexicographic. Finally for a monomial complete intersection Artinian ideal $I=(x_1^{d_1},...,x_n^{d_n})$, we prove that \gin(I) is almost reverse lexicographic if $d_i > \sum_{j=1}^{i-1} d_j - i + 1$ for each $i \ge 4$. Using this, we give a positive partial answer to Moreno-Socias conjecture, and to Fr\"{o}berg conjecture.Comment: 10 page

Chemotherapy of Cholangiocarcinoma: Current Management and Future Directions

Cholangiocarcinoma is a relatively rare form of gastroenterological cancer that divided into intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal bile duct cancer. Approximately, 10,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in the United States, and a 5-year survival rate is below 20%. While only surgical resection can provide a cure, most of cholangiocarcinomas are detected at inoperable stage and associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, cholangiocarcinoma has a high recurrence rate, even after curative surgery. Therefore, chemotherapy has an important role in the treatment of patients with cholangiocarcinoma. International efforts by physicians and researchers are revealing genetic factors of cholangiocarcinoma progression, which will identify early diagnostic markers and novel therapeutic targets. In this chapter, current strategies of adjuvant, neoadjuvant, and palliative chemotherapy will be discussed, as well as expectant future therapeutic targets and development of individualized therapies

Pain Management of Herpes Zoster

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a disease triggered by the reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) in spinal or cranial sensory ganglia, and is characterized by a painful vesicular eruption in the affected dermatome. Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic, neuropathic pain that can persist long beyond resolution of visible cutaneous manifestations which is often resistant to current analgesic treatments. The lifetime prevalence of herpes zoster is approximately 20–30% and about 9–34% of these patients develop PHN depending on its definition. Clinical experience has shown that PHN often develops in cases of inadequate initial pain management resulting in increased pain intensity. This review provides an overview of the treatment options for HZ and PHN, focusing on the therapeutic modalities of pain management. The primary objectives of management of HZ are to inhibit viral replication, relieve pain, and prevent associated complications, such as PHN. General treatments for acute HZ are combination of antiviral therapy with a short course of corticosteroids at the onset of the disease in conjunction with an effective control of acute pain, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, opioids, and anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or pregabalin. Treatment of PHN is often resistant to the current pharmacologic methods. Therefore, a multimodal analgesic treatment regimen including topical lidocaine and capsaicin, systemic therapies, and the interventional treatments is necessary to alleviate pain and its effect on quality of life. As the incidence of HZ increases with age, the number of patients with HZ and PHN may increase in the future considering the gradual aging of the general population. Appropriate management of HZ can reduce the duration and intensity of pain from HZ, and prevent the development of PHN. In addition, prophylactic zoster vaccination can prevent or reduce the incidence of HZ and PHN. Further efforts are needed to minimize pain of the patients suffering from HZ and PHN as it affects the quality of life in the aspect of both physical and psychological impairments

Modulation of A375 human melanoma cell proliferation and apoptosis by nitric oxide

The present study aimed to assess the effect of NO• on melanoma A375 cell growth and apoptotic cell death. Trypan blue exclusion assay was employed to detect the cytotoxicity induced by controlled steady-state concentrations (given in µM • min) of NO•. The characteristics of the cellular cell cycle and apoptosis in NO•-treated A375 cells were also analyzed by Annexin V/PI and DNA fragmentation assays. Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins (p53, Bax, Fas, DR5, caspase-3 and -9, and PARP). When exposed to preformed 100% NO• for 8 h reactor system, a cumulative dose of 3360 μM • min reduced the viability by 22% 24 h after treatment and promoted apoptosis, 2.9- and 12.2-folds 24 and 48 h after treatment higher than the argon control, respectively. Cell cycle analysis 48 h after treatment revealed S-phase arrest in cells treated with 3360 μM • min NO•. It was also observed that the expression of p53, DR5, caspase 9 and PARP increased significantly upon NO• treatment. In addition, the present study assessed the inhibitory effects of endogenous NO• on the proliferation of human melanoma cells by employing specific (AMG, 1400W and/or SMTC) and nonspecific (NMA) NO• synthase (NOS) inhibitors resulting in melanoma cell growth inhibition; the highest cytotoxic effect was seen when inducible NOS inhibition by 1 mM 1400W treatment. Collectively, the present data suggest that NO• is involved in a key mechanism limiting melanoma proliferation and apoptosis, which may play in improving the efficacy of melanoma treatment

Flexible and transparent supercapacitors and fabrication using thin film carbon electrodes with controlled morphologies

Mechanically flexible and optically transparent thin film solid state supercapacitors are fabricated by assembling nano-engineered carbon electrodes in porous templates. The electrodes have textured graphitic surface films with a morphology of interconnected arrays of complex shapes and porosity. The graphitic films act as both electrode and current collector, and when integrated with solid polymer electrolyte function as thin film supercapacitors. The nanostructured electrode morphology and conformal electrolyte packaging provide enough energy and power density for electronic devices in addition to possessing excellent mechanical flexibility and optical transparency

A facile route for 3D aerogels from nanostructured 1D and 2D materials

Aerogels have numerous applications due to their high surface area and low densities. However, creating aerogels from a large variety of materials has remained an outstanding challenge. Here, we report a new methodology to enable aerogel production with a wide range of materials. The method is based on the assembly of anisotropic nano-objects (one-dimensional (1D) nanotubes, nanowires, or two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets) into a cross-linking network from their colloidal suspensions at the transition from the semi-dilute to the isotropic concentrated regime. The resultant aerogels have highly porous and ultrafine three-dimensional (3D) networks consisting of 1D (Ag, Si, MnO2, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs)) and 2D materials (MoS2, graphene, h-BN) with high surface areas, low densities, and high electrical conductivities. This method opens up a facile route for aerogel production with a wide variety of materials and tremendous opportunities for bio-scaffold, energy storage, thermoelectric, catalysis, and hydrogen storage applications.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (award number NSF DMR 0845358)MIT Energy InitiativeDouglas Spreng '65Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologie

New Approach of Anti-VEGF Agents for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual loss in older population. Angiogenesis is an important factor associated with the development of CNV due to AMD. Treatment of CNV with intravitreal anti-VEGF monotherapy is currently the standard of care. However, not all patients respond to monotherapy, and modified anti-VEGF treatment regimen and combination therapy may target reducing treatment frequency or improving visual outcome. This paper reviews the many clinical trials that have been performed utilizing several treatment regimens. While many trials have shown that this variable therapy is justifiable, further study is required to determine correct regimens and dosage