Transform-Limited-Pulse Representation of Excitation with Natural Incoherent Light

We study the natural excitation of molecular systems, applicable to, for example, photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes, by natural incoherent light. In contrast with the conventional classical models, we show that the light need not have random character to properly represent the resultant linear excitation. Rather, thermal excitation can be interpreted as a collection of individual events resulting from the system's interaction with individual, deterministic pulsed realizations that constitute the field. The derived expressions for the individual field realizations and excitation events allow for a wave function formalism, and therefore constitute a useful calculational tool to study dynamics following thermal-light excitation. Further, they provide a route to the experimental determination of natural incoherent excitation using pulsed laser techniques.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 page supplementary information. Comments welcom

Quantum work statistics, Loschmidt echo and information scrambling

A universal relation is established between the quantum work probability distribution of an isolated driven quantum system and the Loschmidt echo dynamics of a two-mode squeezed state. When the initial density matrix is canonical, the Loschmidt echo of the purified double thermofield state provides a direct measure of information scrambling and can be related to the analytic continuation of the partition function. Information scrambling is then described by the quantum work statistics associated with the time-reversal operation on a single copy, associated with the sudden negation of the system Hamiltonian.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure, published versio

Capturing flow transformation processes across an uneven seabed in coarse-grained sediment gravity flow deposits

The upper part of the Jurassic stratigraphy of the Los Molles Formation corresponds to deepwater succession deposited with a regional marine transgression during the early postrift stage of the Neuquén Basin. The present study conducted in the location of Chacay Melehue (Argentina) is used to document the interactions between coarse-grained sediment gravity flows and the depositional relief of a seismic-scale mass transport complex (MTC), with metre-scale mounds and decametric protruding clasts, as an analogue for similar configurations in subsurface systems. The 60 m thick succession is exposed along a 6.5 km long oblique downdip longitudinal profile. Exposure quality permits walking out of individual beds. A total of 16 stratigraphic sections (1560 m thick) spaced between 500 m and 100 m, were logged at 1:50 and 1:25 scale. The basal datum of the studied interval is the top of a MTC and the top marker bed is an extensive sandstone bed. Two units studied correspond to very coarse to fine-grained medium-bedded sandstones with abundant pebble-sized clasts (Unit1) and three thick plurimetric distinct beds of poorly-sorted, granular to medium-grained mud-rich sandstone matrix supporting polygenic gravels (Unit2). Distinct thick extensive beds in both units are intercalated with heterolithic successions of thin to medium-bedded very coarse- to coarse-grained or fine-grained sandstones, siltstones and mudstones. The sandstone beds in Unit 1 abruptly pinchout in the proximal part of study area. They are associated with evidence of erosion, sediment bypass and transformation of subaqueous sand-bearing flows. Stratigraphically, sandstone packages in the Unit 2 are increasingly more laterally extensive upwards in the succession. Thickness variations in these beds are related to compensational stacking. The research will inform studies in the architecture of deep-water successions above an uneven seabed inherited from the top of a MTC. The detailed analysis of exhumed examples that record depositional changes in the structure of the flow can lead to the development of predictive stratigraphic models which incorporate details and complexities observed in outcrop and can be applied for the evaluation of the quality of subsurface reservoirs.Fil: Privat, Aurélia. University of Leeds; Reino UnidoFil: Hodgson, David. University of Leeds; Reino UnidoFil: Peakall, Jeffrey. University of Leeds; Reino UnidoFil: Jackson, Christopher A. L.. University of Leeds; Reino UnidoFil: Schwarz, Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; Argentina2016 AAPG/SEG International Convention and ExhibitionBarcelonaEspañaAmerican Association of Petroleum GeologistsSociety of Exploration Geophysicist

Positive influence of short message service and voice call interventions on adherence and health outcomes in case of chronic disease care: a systematic review

Background: Chronic diseases have emerged as a serious threat for health, as well as for global development. They endenger considerably increased health care costs and diminish the productivity of the adult population group and, therefore, create a burden on health, as well as on the global economy. As the management of chronic diseases involves long-term care, often lifelong patient adherence is the key for better health outcomes. We carried out a systematic literature review on the impact of mobile health interventions -mobile phone texts and/or voice messages- in high, middle and low income countries to ascertain the impact on patients’ adherence to medical advice, as well as the impact on health outcomes in cases of chronic diseases. Methods: The review identified fourteen related studies following the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, in PubMed, Cochrane Library, the Library of Congress, and Web Sciences. All the interventions were critically analysed according to the study design, sample size, duration, tools used, and the statistical methods used for analysing the primary data. Impacts of the different interventions on outcomes of interest were also analysed. Results: The findings showed evidence of improved adherence, as well as health outcomes in disease management, using mobile Short Message Systems and/or Voice Calls. Significant improvement has been found on adherence with taking medicine, following diet and physical activity advice, as well as improvement in clinical parameters like HbA1c, blood glucose, blood cholesterol and control of blood pressure and asthma. Conclusions: Though studies showed positive impacts on adherence and health outcomes, three caveats should be considered, (i) there was no clear understanding of the processes through which interventions worked; (ii) none of the studies showed cost data for the m-health interventions and (iii) only short term impacts were captured, it remains unclear whether the effects are sustained. More research is needed in these three areas before drawing concrete conclusions and making suggestions to policy makers for further decision and implementation

Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2B (eIF2B) GEF Activity as a Diagnostic Tool for EIF2B-Related Disorders

BACKGROUND:In recent years, the phenotypes of leukodystrophies linked to mutations in the eukaryotic initiation factor 2B genes have been extended, classically called CACH/VWM (Childhood ataxia with cntral hypomyélination/vanishing white matter disorder). The large clinical spectrum observed from the more severe antenatal forms responsible for fetal death to milder adult forms with an onset after 16 years old and restricted to slow cognitive impairment have lead to the concept of eIF2B-related disorders. The typical MRI pattern with a diffuse CSF-like aspect of the cerebral white matter can lack particularly in the adult forms whereas an increasing number of patients with clinical and MRI criteria for CACH/VWM disease but without eIF2B mutations are found. Then we propose the use of biochemical markers to help in this difficult diagnosis. The biochemical diagnosis of eIF2B-related disorder is difficult as no marker, except the recently described asialotransferrin/transferrin ratio measured in cerebrospinal fluid, has been proposed and validated until now. Decreased eIF2B GEF activity has been previously reported in lymphoblastoid cell lines from 30 eIF2B-mutated patients. Our objective was to evaluate further the utility of this marker and to validate eIF2B GEF activity in a larger cohort as a specific diagnostic test for eIF2B-related disorders. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We performed eIF2B GEF activity assays in cells from 63 patients presenting with different clinical forms and eIF2B mutations in comparison to controls but also to patients with defined leukodystrophies or CACH/VWM-like diseases without eIF2B mutations. We found a significant decrease of GEF activity in cells from eIF2B-mutated patients with 100% specificity and 89% sensitivity when the activity threshold was set at < or =77.5%. CONCLUSION:These results validate the measurement of eIF2B GEF activity in patients' transformed-lymphocytes as an important tool for the diagnosis of eIF2B-related disorders

Incidência de fungos em sementes de Manhiot esculenta Crantz. Uma comparação entre variedades do Amazonas e de São Paulo

The fungi incidence in five varieties of Manhiot seeds from Amazonas and São Paulo were studied Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. were the most common genus of Fungi found in all the varieties. The Amazonian Variety "Poré" was the less susceptible of the varieties analyses for fungi development. The most affected variety for fungi development was "Yara x Vassouras" from São Paulo. No differences were found between the three types of treatments concerning on fungi development in seeds. It was also observed no significant differences on fungi development between stored seeds and those used immediately after the abrupt deiscence.Foi estudada a incidência de fungos em sementes de cinco variedades de Mandioca do Amazonas e de São Paulo. Aspergillus e Penicillium foram os gêneros mais comuns encontrados em todas as variedades. A variedade Amazônica "Poré", foi a menos susceptível das variedades analisadas para o desenvolvimento de fungos. A mais afetada foi "Yara x Vassouras", proveniente de São Paulo. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os três tipos de tratamentos quanto ao desenvolvimento de fungos em sementes. Não houve, também, diferenças significativas quanto ao desenvolvimento desses microrganismos em sementes armazenadas e aquelas usadas imediatamente após a deiscência abrupt

Self-reported data: a major tool to assess compliance with anti-malarial combination therapy among children in Senegal

Background: Although there are many methods available for measuring compliance, there is no formal gold standard. Different techniques used to measure compliance were compared among children treated by the anti-malarial amodiaquine/sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (AQ/SP) combination therapy, in use in Senegal between 2004 and 2006. Methods: The study was carried out in 2004, in five health centres located in the Thies region (Senegal). Children who had AQ/SP prescribed for three and one day respectively at the health centre were recruited. The day following the theoretical last intake of AQ, venous blood, and urine samples were collected for anti-malarial drugs dosage. Caregivers and children above five years were interviewed concerning children's drug intake. Results: Among the children, 64.7% adhered to 80% of the prescribed dose and only 37.7% were strict full adherent to the prescription. There was 72.7% agreement between self-reported data and blood drug dosage for amodiaquine treatment. Concerning SP, results found that blood dosages were 91.4% concordant with urine tests and 90% with self-reported data based on questionnaires. Conclusion: Self-reported data could provide useful quantitative information on drug intake and administration. Under strict methodological conditions this method, easy to implement, can be used to describe patients' behaviors and their use of new anti-malarial treatment. Self-reported data is a major tool for assessing compliance in resource poor countries. Blood and urine drug dosages provide qualitative results that confirm any drug intake. Urine assays for SP could be useful to obtain public health data, for example on chemoprophylaxis among pregnant women

Evaluation of the endoplasmic reticulum-stress response in eIF2B-mutated lymphocytes and lymphoblasts from CACH/VWM patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and a key regulator of translation initiation under normal and stress conditions, causes an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy of a wide clinical spectrum. EBV-immortalised lymphocytes (EIL) from eIF2B-mutated patients exhibit a decrease in eIF2B GEF activity. eIF2B-mutated primary fibroblasts have a hyper-induction of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) which is involved in the protective unfolded protein response (UPR), also known as the ER-stress response. We tested the hypothesis that EIL from eIF2B-mutated patients also exhibit a heightened ER-stress response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used thapsigargin as an ER-stress agent and looked at polysomal profiles, rate of protein synthesis, translational activation of <it>ATF4</it>, and transcriptional induction of stress-specific mRNAs (<it>ATF4, CHOP, ASNS, GRP78</it>) in normal and eIF2B-mutated EIL. We also compared the level of stress-specific mRNAs between EIL and primary lymphocytes (PL).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Despite the low eIF2B GEF activity in the 12 eIF2B-mutated EIL cell lines tested (range 40-70% of normal), these cell lines did not differ from normal EIL in their ATF4-mediated ER-stress response. The absence of hyper-induction of ATF4-mediated ER-stress response in eIF2B-mutated EIL in contrast to primary fibroblasts is not related to their transformation by EBV. Indeed, PL exhibited a higher induction of the stress-specific mRNAs in comparison to EIL, but no hyper-induction of the UPR was noticed in the eIF2B-mutated cell lines in comparison to controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together with work of others, our results demonstrate the absence of a major difference in ER-stress response between controls and eIF2B-mutated cells. Therefore, components of the ER-stress response cannot be used as discriminantory markers in eIF2B-related disorders.</p

PLoS Genet

To generate highly specific and adapted immune responses, B cells diversify their antibody repertoire through mechanisms involving the generation of programmed DNA damage. Somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) are initiated by the recruitment of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) to immunoglobulin loci and by the subsequent generation of DNA lesions, which are differentially processed to mutations during SHM or to double-stranded DNA break intermediates during CSR. The latter activate the DNA damage response and mobilize multiple DNA repair factors, including Parp1 and Parp2, to promote DNA repair and long-range recombination. We examined the contribution of Parp3 in CSR and SHM. We find that deficiency in Parp3 results in enhanced CSR, while SHM remains unaffected. Mechanistically, this is due to increased occupancy of AID at the donor (Smu) switch region. We also find evidence of increased levels of DNA damage at switch region junctions and a bias towards alternative end joining in the absence of Parp3. We propose that Parp3 plays a CSR-specific role by controlling AID levels at switch regions during CSR