Cosmic acceleration and phantom crossing in f(T)f(T)-gravity

In this paper, we propose two new models in $f(T)$ gravity to realize universe acceleration and phantom crossing due to dark torsion in the formalism. The model parameters are constrained and the observational test are discussed. The best fit results favors an accelerating universe with possible phantom crossing in the near past or future followed respectively by matter and radiation dominated era.Comment: 20 pages, 18 figures, Will appear in Astrophys Space Sc

Increased renal glomerular endothelin-1 release in gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity

Gentamicin-induced acute renal failure is characterized by a decrease in renal plasma flow and creatinine clearance. Endothelins (ET) are potent renal vasoconstrictors. The aim of this work is to assess the role of ET-1 in gentamicin-induced renal failure. Renal glomerular release of ET-1 was measured in rats with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity (100 mg/kg/day, s.c. for 2, 4 or 6 days). Glomeruli were isolated and incubated for 24 h in RPMI-1640. Glomerular supernatant and plasma concentration of ET-1 were measured by RIA. Renal failure was assessed by insulin, para-aminohippuric and creatinine clearance and histological studies. Gentamicin induced a dose number-dependent increase in plasma creatinine and a decrease in creatinine clearance. This was accompanied by a marked decrease in inulin and para-aminohippuric acid clearance, as well as by a marked tubular necrosis, without alterations in glomerular structures. Plasma ET-1 concentration and glomerular ET-1 release were also increased in gentamicin-treated rats. When 10−5 m gentamicin was added to control glomeruli, ET-1 production was not modified (36.4 ± 2.2 vs. 35.2 ± 1.7 pg/ml/24 h). All these results suggest that elevated ET-1 plasma levels and increased glomerular release of ET-1 could mediate, at least in part, the decrease in glomerular filtration rate observed in gentamicin-induced ARF

Cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates: Theory and research findings on American and Japanese expatriates

Theory and research findings of expatriate adjustment were examined to gain a better understanding of the adjustment process. Empirical studies have been focused on the failure rates of expatriates rather than on their adjustment capacity in foreign societies. Few studies have attempted to assess the level of adjustment for both American and Japanese expatriates in the same cultural environment. Future studies need to investigate how one group of expatriates can be better-adjusted than another in different cultures, the differences in their adjustment to the different facets of cross-cultural adjustment and the factors that enable one group to outperform the other group.