Microscopic dynamics underlying the anomalous diffusion

The time dependent Tsallis statistical distribution describing anomalous diffusion is usually obtained in the literature as the solution of a non-linear Fokker-Planck (FP) equation [A.R. Plastino and A. Plastino, Physica A, 222, 347 (1995)]. The scope of the present paper is twofold. Firstly we show that this distribution can be obtained also as solution of the non-linear porous media equation. Secondly we prove that the time dependent Tsallis distribution can be obtained also as solution of a linear FP equation [G. Kaniadakis and P. Quarati, Physica A, 237, 229 (1997)] with coefficients depending on the velocity, that describes a generalized Brownian motion. This linear FP equation is shown to arise from a microscopic dynamics governed by a standard Langevin equation in presence of multiplicative noise.Comment: 4 pag. - no figures. To appear on Phys. Rev. E 62, September 200

Symbolic capital as a resource of promotion of provincial cities: An analysis of place branding strategies of ural urban destinations

The article analyzes the concept of the symbolic capital of a territory and substantiates the importance of its identification and its use for the promotion of three provincial cities in Russia: Shadrinsk, Chebarkul, and Chelyabinsk. Based on the approach of symbolic interactionism and the use of semiotic analysis, the authors of the article propose to group the resources of the symbolic capital of a territory in three ways. They use signs or symbols, images of the territory, and archetypes. The capital of a provincial city can be perceived symbolically both by external (investors and tourists) and internal (local residents) audiences. They serve as a means of shaping the image and reputation of the place. Both P. Bourdieu’s concept of symbolic capital and V. Radaev’s classification for different types of capital allow us to give examples of conversion from the cultural resources of a territory into symbolic capital. The analysis of the communication resonance of a particular mega event (the meteorite fall on the territory of the Southern Urals in 2013) and the study of cultural heritage of the provincial Russian city of Shadrinsk make it possible to identify the actual directions for converting the intangible resources of cities into their symbolic capital. © 2020, FB and Media Group of Estonian Literary Museum. All rights reserved

Cough reflex testing with inhaled capsaicin in the study of chronic cough

AbstractObjectives: To assess the utility of capsaicin test in the differential diagnosis of non-productive causes of chronic cough and to examine the effects of treatment on this reflex. Participants: 86 healthy volunteers and 101 patients with chronic cough: asthma (n: 54), gastroesophageal reflux (n: 35) and post-nasal drip syndrome (n: 12). Design: Prospective intervention trial. Spirometry, bronchoprovocation test with histamine (PC20), and cough challenge with ascending concentrations of capsaicin (0.49–500 μM) were initially performed in all subjects. Patients were treated for 3 months according to the origin of the cough. Concentrations that elicited two (C2) and five or more coughs (C5) were determined before and after treatment.Results: In healthy subjects, cough sensitivity to capsaicin was not influenced by gender or smoking status; however, women with chronic cough were more sensitive to cough challenge than men. C2 and C5 were significantly lower in patients with asthma or gastroesophageal reflux than in post-nasal drip syndrome. No significant correlation was observed between the capsaicin cough threshold and PC20. Cough sensitivity did not improve significantly in most patients with asthma or gastroesophageal reflux despite adequate medical treatment during 3 months. Discriminative value of capsaicin test to differentiate healthy subjects from patients with asthma or reflux was poor. Conclusions: Cough sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin is a safe and reproducible tool in the study of chronic cough. However, its usefulness for the management and differential diagnosis is limited

Multiple scaling regimes in simple aging models

We investigate aging in glassy systems based on a simple model, where a point in configuration space performs thermally activated jumps between the minima of a random energy landscape. The model allows us to show explicitly a subaging behavior and multiple scaling regimes for the correlation function. Both the exponents characterizing the scaling of the different relaxation times with the waiting time and those characterizing the asymptotic decay of the scaling functions are obtained analytically by invoking a `partial equilibrium' concept.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Nonlinear anomalous diffusion equation and fractal dimension: Exact generalized gaussian solution

In this work we incorporate, in a unified way, two anomalous behaviors, the power law and stretched exponential ones, by considering the radial dependence of the $N$-dimensional nonlinear diffusion equation $\partial\rho /\partial{t}={\bf \nabla} \cdot (K{\bf \nabla} \rho^{\nu})-{\bf \nabla}\cdot(\mu{\bf F} \rho)-\alpha \rho ,$ where $K=D r^{-\theta}$, $\nu$, $\theta$, $\mu$ and $D$ are real parameters and $\alpha$ is a time-dependent source. This equation unifies the O'Shaugnessy-Procaccia anomalous diffusion equation on fractals ($\nu =1$) and the spherical anomalous diffusion for porous media ($\theta=0$). An exact spherical symmetric solution of this nonlinear Fokker-Planck equation is obtained, leading to a large class of anomalous behaviors. Stationary solutions for this Fokker-Planck-like equation are also discussed by introducing an effective potential.Comment: Latex, 6 pages. To appear in Phys. Rev.

SPRINT, STAR: Két Hatékony Kezelési Protokoll Az Intenzív Osztályon Kezelt Betegek Vércukorszintjének Normoglikémiás Tartományban Tartásához

(In Hungarian) Paper P0

Implementation of childhood obesity prevention and control policies in the United States and Latin America: Lessons for cross-border research and practice

Progress has been made in the development and widespread implementation of effective interventions to address childhood obesity, yet important challenges remain. To understand how the United States and Latin American countries achieved success in implementing obesity policies and programs (PAPs) and identify improvement opportunities using implementation science principles. We identified three comparative case studies: (1) front-of-food package labeling (Mexico and Chile); (2) Open Streets/play streets (Colombia and the United States); and (3) the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (Brazil and the United States). Information from multiple sources (e.g., scientific and gray literature and key informant interviews) was synthesized to describe barriers, facilitators, and progress of PAPs across RE-AIM framework dimensions. Evidence-based advocacy along with political will and evidence of scalability and impact were key for successful launch and implementation of all PAPs. Diverse adaptations of PAP design and implementation had to be done across contexts. Stronger process and impact monitoring and evaluation systems that track equity indicators are needed to maximize the population benefits of these PAPs. Implementation science offers an important contribution toward addressing knowledge gaps, enhancing obesity policy dialogue, and producing transferable lessons across the Americas and, therefore, should be used for research and evaluation during PAP development and throughout the implementation and maintenance phases

Identification and characterisation of G-quadruplex DNA-forming sequences in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome

A number of Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa are becoming resistant to front-line antibiotics. Consequently, there is a pressing need to find alternative bio-molecular targets for the development of new drugs. Since non-canonical DNA structures such as guanine-quadruplexes (G4s) have been implicated in regulating transcription, we were interested in determining whether there are putative quadruplex-forming sequences (PQS) in the genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using bioinformatic tools, we screened 36 genes potentially relevant to drug resistance for the presence of PQS and 10 of these were selected for biophysical characterisation (i.e. circular dichroism and thermal difference UV/Vis spectroscopy). These studies showed that three of these G-rich sequences (linked to murE, ftsB and mexC genes) form stable guanine-quadruplexes which were studied by NMR spectroscopy; detailed analysis of one of the sequences (mexC) confirmed that it adopts a two-quartet antiparallel quadruplex structure in the presence of K+ ions. We also show by FRET melting assays that small molecules can stabilise these three new G4 DNA structures under physiological conditions. These initial results could be of future interest in the development of new antibiotics with alternative bio-molecular targets which in turn would help tackle antimicrobial resistance

Endogenous insulin secretion in critically ill patients

1-pageGlucose-insulin system models can be used for improved glycemic control of critically ill patients. A key component of glucose-insulin models is pancreatic insulin secretion. There is limited data in the literature quantifying insulin secretion in critically ill patients at physiologic levels. This study presents a model pancreatic insulin secretion in critically ill patients based on data from a critically ill population