D-brane Bound States from Charged Macroscopic Strings

We construct new D-brane bound states using charged macroscopic type IIB string solutions.A generic bound state solution, when dimensionally reduced, carries multiple gauge charges. Starting with D=9 charged macroscopic strings, we obtain solutions in D=10, which are interpreted as carrying (F, D0, D2) charges as well as nonzero momenta. The masses and charges are also explicitly shown to satisfy the non-threshold bound of 1/2 BPS objects. Our solutions reduce to the known D-brane bound state solutions with appropriate restrictions in the parameter space. We further generalize the results to (Dp- D(p+2)) bound state in IIA/B theories, giving an explicit example with p=1.Comment: 21 pages, latex, few references added: minor modification

The effect of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration for elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Egypt

We studied effects of compliance on the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) with diethylcarbamazine and albendazole for lymphatic filariasis (LF) in an Egyptian village. Baseline microfilaremia (mf) and filarial antigenemia rates were 11.5% and 19.0%, respectively. The MDA compliance rates were excellent (> 85%). However, individual compliance was highly variable; 7.4% of those surveyed after five rounds of MDA denied having ever taken the medications and 52.4% reported that they had taken all five doses. The mf and antigenemia rates were 0.2% and 2.7% in those who reported five doses of MDA and 8.3% and 13.8% in those who reported zero doses. There was no significant difference in residual infection rates among those who had taken two or more doses. These results underscore the importance of compliance for LF elimination programs based on MDA and suggest that two ingested doses of MDA are as effective as five doses for reducing filariasis infection rates

Theory of a Higher Order Phase Transition: Superconducting Transition in BKBO

We describe here the properties expected of a higher (with emphasis on the order fourth) order phase transition. The order is identified in the sense first noted by Ehrenfest, namely in terms of the temperature dependence of the ordered state free energy near the phase boundary. We have derived an equation for the phase boundary in terms of the discontinuities in thermodynamic observables, developed a Ginzburg-Landau free energy and studied the thermodynamic and magnetic properties. We also discuss the current status of experiments on $Ba_{0.6}K_{0.4}BiO_3$ and other $BiO_3$ based superconductors, the expectations for parameters and examine alternative explanations of the experimental results.Comment: 18 pages, no figure

Implications of Recent Measurements of Hadronic Charmless B Decays

Implications of recent CLEO measurements of hadronic charmless B decays are discussed. (i) Employing the Bauer-Stech-Wirbel (BSW) model for form factors as a benchmark, the $B\to\pi^+\pi^-$ data indicate that the form factor $F_0^{B\pi}(0)$ is smaller than that predicted by the BSW model, whereas the data of $B\to\omega\pi, K^*\eta$ imply that the form factors $A_0^{B\omega}(0), A_0^{BK^*}(0)$ are greater than the BSW model's values. (ii) The tree-dominated modes $B\to\pi^+\pi^-, \rho^0\pi^\pm, \omega\pi^\pm$ imply that the effective number of colors N_c(LL) for (V-A)(V-A) operators is preferred to be smaller, while the current limit on $B\to\phi K$ shows that N_c(LR)>3. The data of $B\to K\eta'$ and $K^*\eta$ clearly indicate that $N_c(LR)\gg N_c(LL)$. (iii) In order to understand the observed suppression of $\pi^+\pi^-$ and non-suppression of $K\pi$ modes, both being governed by the form factor $F_0^{B\pi}$, the unitarity angle $\gamma$ is preferred to be greater than $90^\circ$. By contrast, the new measurement of $B^\pm\to\rho^0\pi^\pm$ no longer strongly favors $\cos\gamma<0$. (iv) The observed pattern K^-\pi^+\sim \ov K^0\pi^-\sim {2\over 3}K^-\pi^0 is consistent with the theoretical expectation: The constructive interference between electroweak and QCD penguin diagrams in the $K^-\pi^0$ mode explains why {\cal B}(B^-\to K^-\pi^0)>{1\over 2}{\cal B}(\ov B^0\to K^-\pi^+). (v) The observation \nc(LL)<3<\nc(LR) and our preference for \nc(LL)\sim 2 and \nc(LR)\sim 6 are justified by a recent perturbative QCD calculation of hadronic rare B decays in the heavy quark limit.Comment: 21 pages; CLEO measurements of several charmless B decay modes are updated. Discussion of the unitarity angle gamma in the \rho\pi mode is revise

Therapeutic role of MSCs-derived exosomes for Alzheimer's disease

The discovery of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSCs-derived exosomes) has shed a new light in the development of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer (AD). The present study is an attempt to investigate the influence of these extracellular vesicles (exosomes) in Alz therapy. A total of 38 adult female albino Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: Control group (C) of 8 rats given saline; Alzheimer’s group (Alz) of 15 ovariectomized animals inoculated orally with AlCl3 (17mg/Kg b.wt/day) for 2 months after 6 weeks of surgical operation and 15 Alzheimer’s disease-induced rats treated (i.v) with (107 MSCs-derived exosomes/rat/week). After 2 and 4 weeks animals were sacrificed by ether inhalation anesthesia where brains were removed and processed for histological investigation by Hx&E and biochemical analysis for measuring β-Amyloid 1-42 and Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels

Drying effect on the properties of traditionally processed sago starch

Local people in Sarawak, Malaysia produce sago starch, commonly referred as lemantak, using traditional method for authentic meals and delicacies. The quality of lemantak degrades with time due to its high moisture content limiting the potential for a wider market, and hence affecting the socio-economy of those whose livelihood depends on sago starch production. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the changes in the properties of traditionally processed dried Sarawak sago starch. In order to achieve this, sago starch was extracted using a well-established traditional process and was dried at 40°C to produce sago starch with moisture contents of 40%, 30%, 20% and 10% wet basis. The effect of moisture content on the physical properties was studied through colour analysis, microscopic analysis, and particle size distribution. Analysis on resistant starch content was also performed. Changes on the hydration and functional properties was monitored by measuring the water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI), swelling capacity (SC), and gelatinisation behaviour. Lastly, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied to observe the changes in amorphous and crystalline areas. The physical properties analysis showed changes in starch colour and granule surface; but the change on granule size varied. Dried starch with lower moisture content exhibited higher resistant starch, absorption index, and peak temperature, but lower solubility index, swelling capacity, peak viscosity, crystalline index, and amorphous index. It is suggested that moisture content affected the changes in traditionally processed sago starch properties which was influenced by few components namely polyphenol, lipid, amylose-lipid complex, and inter-molecular hydrogen bon

Development and implementation of novel liquid biopsy NGS panels via the OncNGS precommercial procurement (PCP) initiative

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis is transforming oncology, but challenges such as insufficient analytical sensitivity, difficult variant interpretation, suboptimal turnaround time, limited deployment flexibility, and high costs hinder its broader adoption and raise concerns about reimbursement sustainability across European health care systems. Materials and methods: To address these challenges, we created the OncNGS consortium, comprising academic, public, and private hospitals (buyers' group) and several supporting entities, to run a European precommercial procurement (PCP) initiative. The consortium defined ctDNA diagnostic testing requirements, conducted an open market consultation, and launched a call for tender. Suppliers were invited to develop an end-to-end, Conformit & eacute; Europ & eacute;enne In Vitro Diagnostic (CE-IVD)-compliant solution integrating wet laboratory, dry laboratory, and reporting workflow in a single procedure, offering short turnaround time and reasonable cost. Results: The OncNGS consortium defined criteria for a versatile, modular, cost-effective solution, deployable centrally or on-site, and adaptable to advancements in precision oncology. Launched in July 2022, the tender attracted seven companies, with four selected for phase I-OncNGS solution(s) design. From these, three advanced to phase II-prototyping. Ultimately, two contractors were awarded contracts for phase III to assess the clinical performance of their prototypes. Conclusions: By leveraging the PCP approach, OncNGS aims to deliver innovative, affordable solutions to standardize ctDNA testing and reporting across European Union countries, improving diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for oncology patients

Risk classification at diagnosis predicts post-HCT outcomes in intermediate-, adverse-risk, and KMT2A-rearranged AML

Little is known about whether risk classification at diagnosis predicts post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) outcomes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We evaluated 8709 patients with AML from the CIBMTR database, and after selection and manual curation of the cytogenetics data, 3779 patients in first complete remission were included in the final analysis: 2384 with intermediate-risk, 969 with adverse-risk, and 426 with KMT2A-rearranged disease. An adjusted multivariable analysis detected an increased risk of relapse for patients with KMT2A-rearranged or adverse-risk AML as compared to those with intermediate-risk disease (hazards ratio [HR], 1.27; P 5.01; HR, 1.71; P,.001, respectively). Leukemia-free survival was similar for patients with KMT2A rearrangement or adverse risk (HR, 1.26; P 5.002, and HR, 1.47; P,.001), as was overall survival (HR, 1.32; P,.001, and HR, 1.45; P,.001). No differences in outcome were detected when patients were stratified by KMT2A fusion partner. This study is the largest conducted to date on post-HCT outcomes in AML, with manually curated cytogenetics used for risk stratification. Our work demonstrates that risk classification at diagnosis remains predictive of post-HCT outcomes in AML. It also highlights the critical need to develop novel treatment strategies for patients with KMT2A-rearranged and adverse-risk disease

Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 315 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE), 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background Healthy life expectancy (HALE) and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) provide summary measures of health across geographies and time that can inform assessments of epidemiological patterns and health system performance, help to prioritise investments in research and development, and monitor progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aimed to provide updated HALE and DALYs for geographies worldwide and evaluate how disease burden changes with development. Methods We used results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 (GBD 2015) for all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, and non-fatal disease burden to derive HALE and DALYs by sex for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015. We calculated DALYs by summing years of life lost (YLLs) and years of life lived with disability (YLDs) for each geography, age group, sex, and year. We estimated HALE using the Sullivan method, which draws from age-specific death rates and YLDs per capita. We then assessed how observed levels of DALYs and HALE differed from expected trends calculated with the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator constructed from measures of income per capita, average years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Findings Total global DALYs remained largely unchanged from 1990 to 2015, with decreases in communicable, neonatal, maternal, and nutritional (Group 1) disease DALYs offset by increased DALYs due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Much of this epidemiological transition was caused by changes in population growth and ageing, but it was accelerated by widespread improvements in SDI that also correlated strongly with the increasing importance of NCDs. Both total DALYs and age-standardised DALY rates due to most Group 1 causes significantly decreased by 2015, and although total burden climbed for the majority of NCDs, age-standardised DALY rates due to NCDs declined. Nonetheless, age-standardised DALY rates due to several high-burden NCDs (including osteoarthritis, drug use disorders, depression, diabetes, congenital birth defects, and skin, oral, and sense organ diseases) either increased or remained unchanged, leading to increases in their relative ranking in many geographies. From 2005 to 2015, HALE at birth increased by an average of 2·9 years (95% uncertainty interval 2·9–3·0) for men and 3·5 years (3·4–3·7) for women, while HALE at age 65 years improved by 0·85 years (0·78–0·92) and 1·2 years (1·1–1·3), respectively. Rising SDI was associated with consistently higher HALE and a somewhat smaller proportion of life spent with functional health loss; however, rising SDI was related to increases in total disability. Many countries and territories in central America and eastern sub-Saharan Africa had increasingly lower rates of disease burden than expected given their SDI. At the same time, a subset of geographies recorded a growing gap between observed and expected levels of DALYs, a trend driven mainly by rising burden due to war, interpersonal violence, and various NCDs. Interpretation Health is improving globally, but this means more populations are spending more time with functional health loss, an absolute expansion of morbidity. The proportion of life spent in ill health decreases somewhat with increasing SDI, a relative compression of morbidity, which supports continued efforts to elevate personal income, improve education, and limit fertility. Our analysis of DALYs and HALE and their relationship to SDI represents a robust framework on which to benchmark geography-specific health performance and SDG progress. Country-specific drivers of disease burden, particularly for causes with higher-than-expected DALYs, should inform financial and research investments, prevention efforts, health policies, and health system improvement initiatives for all countries along the development continuum. Funding Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation