5,214 research outputs found
Functional estrogen receptors of red blood cells. Do they influence intracellular signaling?
Background/Aims: Estrogen could play a key role in the mechanisms underlying sex-related disparity in the incidence of thrombotic events. We investigated whether estrogen receptors (ERs) were expressed in human red blood cells (RBCs), and if they affected cell signaling of erythrocyte constitutive isoform of endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) and nitric oxide (NO) release. Methods: RBCs from 29 non-smoker volunteers (15 males and 14 females) aged between 20 and 40 years were analyzed by cytometry and western blot. In particular, content and distribution of ER-α and ER-β, tyrosine kinases and eNOS phosphorylation and NO release were analyzed. Results: We demonstrated that: i) both ER-α and ER-β were expressed by RBCs; ii) they were both functionally active; and iii) ERs distribution and function were different in males and females. In particular, ERs modulated eNOS phosphorylation and NO release in RBCs from both sexes, but they induced the phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues of kinases linked to eNOS activation and NO release in the RBCs from females only. Conclusion: Collectively, these data suggest that ERs could play a critical role in RBC intracellular signaling. The possible implication of this signaling in sex-linked risk disparity in human cardiovascular diseases, e.g. in thrombotic events, may not be ruled out
Prediction of mutual diffusion coefficients in binary liquid systems with one self-associating component from viscosity data and intra-diffusion coefficients at infinite dilution
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. A new model for prediction of mutual diffusion coefficients is proposed over the whole composition range for binary liquid systems of one self-associating component and one non-polar component. The model is based on the Darken equation with the knowledge of intra-diffusion coefficients at infinite dilution of both species and viscosity data for the system, and takes into account the cluster diffusion approach with a scaling power on the thermodynamic correction factor. The model was validated to show good concurrence with the experimental mutual diffusion data. Following the analysis that the mutual diffusion coefficients at infinite dilution can be identified with the molecular intra-diffusion coefficient of the species (i.e., the intra-diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution in the absence of self-association), the proposed equation was extended to binary liquid systems without significant association. The accuracy of prediction for systems of cross associating species is expected to be limited. The model relies on the knowledge of the viscosity of the mixture over the whole composition range and may be used as a valid alternative to models based on measuring intra-diffusion coefficients as a function of composition. Indeed, such data are not always available or are more difficult to obtain whereas viscosity measurements can be readily available and more easily measured.C. D’Agostino would like to acknowledge Wolfson College, Cambridge, for supporting his research activities
Convective heat transfer in cellular ceramic: A 3D numerical solution
Paper presented to the 10th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Florida, 14-16 July 2014.In this work, three-dimensional thermo fluid dynamics analyses were performed in order to evaluate the convective heat transfer coefficient for cellular ceramics, both random (i.e. foams) and regular (i.e. lattices). The study aimed at evaluating the heat exchange performance of cellular ceramics with the scope of engineering their morphology in order to maximize the ratio between heat exchange and pressure drop.
Performed simulations focus on capturing the relevance of cell morphology on thermal convection and pressure drop of cellular ceramics within a porosity range of 75–90% and at different fluid velocities. Computational analyses were performed with the commercial CFD package ANSYS-Fluent. Results show that parameters affecting most the pressure drop are porosity and cell aspect ratio; on the other hand, the thermal convective coefficient is strongly dependent on surface area, which, in turn, is directly related to cell morphology.dc201
Post-treatment follow-up study of abdominal cystic echinococcosis in Tibetan communities of northwest Sichuan Province, China
Background: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, with the liver as the
most frequently affected organ, is known to be highly endemic in Tibetan communities of northwest Sichuan Province.
Antiparasitic treatment with albendazole remains the primary choice for the great majority of patients in this resource-poor
remote area, though surgery is the most common approach for CE therapy that has the potential to remove cysts and lead
to complete cure. The current prospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness of community based use of cyclic
albendazole treatment in Tibetan CE cases, and concurrently monitor the changes of serum specific antibody levels during
treatment.
Methodology/Principal Findings: Ultrasonography was applied for diagnosis and follow-up of CE cases after cyclic
albendazole treatment in Tibetan communities of Sichuan Province during 2006 to 2008, and serum specific IgG antibody
levels against Echinococcus granulosus recombinant antigen B in ELISA was concurrently monitored in these cases. A total of
196 CE cases were identified by ultrasound, of which 37 (18.9%) showed evidence of spontaneous healing/involution of
hepatic cyst(s) with CE4 or CE5 presentations. Of 49 enrolled CE cases for treatment follow-up, 32.7% (16) were considered
to be cured based on B-ultrasound after 6 months to 30 months regular albendazole treatment, 49.0% (24) were improved,
14.3% (7) remained unchanged, and 4.1% (2) became aggravated. In general, patients with CE2 type cysts (daughter cysts
present) needed a longer treatment course for cure (26.4 months), compared to cases with CE1 (univesicular cysts) (20.4
months) or CE3 type (detached cyst membrane or partial degeneration of daughter cysts) (9 months). In addition, the
curative duration was longer in patients with large (.10 cm) cysts (22.3 months), compared to cases with medium (5–
10 cm) cysts (17.3 months) or patients with small (,5 cm) cysts (6 months). At diagnosis, seven (53.8%) of 13 cases with CE1
type cysts without any previous intervention showed negative specific IgG antibody response to E. granulosus recombinant
antigen B (rAgB). However, following 3 months to 18 months albendazole therapy, six of these 7 initially seronegative CE1
cases sero-converted to be specific IgG antibody positive, and concurrently ultrasound scan showed that cysts changed to
CE3a from CE1 type in all the six CE cases. Two major profiles of serum specific IgG antibody dynamics during albendazole
treatment were apparent in CE cases: (i) presenting as initial elevation followed by subsequent decline, or (ii) a persistent
decline. Despite a decline, however, specific antibody levels remained positive in most improved or cured CE cases.
Conclusions: This was the first attempt to follow up community-screened cystic echinococcosis patients after albendazole
therapy using ultrasonography and serology in an endemic Tibetan region. Cyclic albendazole treatment proved to be
effective in the great majority of CE cases in this resource-poor area, but periodic abdominal ultrasound examination was
necessary to guide appropriate treatment. Oral albendazole for over 18 months was more likely to result in CE cure. Poor
drug compliance resulted in less good outcomes. Serology with recombinant antigen B could provide additional limited
information about the effectiveness of albendazole in CE cases. Post-treatment positive specific IgG antibody
seroconversion, in initially seronegative, CE1 patients was considered a good indication for positive therapeutic efficacy
of albendazole
What's in a Sign? Trademark Law and Economic Theory
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to summarise the extant theory as it relates to the economics of trademark, and to give some suggestions for further research with reference to distinct streams of literature. The proposed line of study inevitably looks at the complex relationship between signs and economics. Trademark is a sign introduced to remedy a market failure. It facilitates purchase decisions by indicating the provenance of the goods, so that consumers can identify specific quality attributes deriving from their own, or others', past experience. Trademark holders, on their part, have an incentive to invest in quality because they will be able to reap the benefits in terms of reputation. In other words, trademark law becomes an economic device which, opportunely designed, can produce incentives for maximising market efficiency. This role must, of course, be recognised, as a vast body of literature has done, with its many positive economic consequences. Nevertheless, trademark appears to have additional economic effects that should be properly recognized: it can determine the promotion of market power and the emergence of rent-seeking behaviours. It gives birth to an idiosyncratic economics of signs where very strong protection tends to be assured, even though the welfare effects are as yet poorly understood. In this domain much remains to be done and the challenge to researchers is open
Charge separation relative to the reaction plane in Pb-Pb collisions at TeV
Measurements of charge dependent azimuthal correlations with the ALICE
detector at the LHC are reported for Pb-Pb collisions at TeV. Two- and three-particle charge-dependent azimuthal correlations in
the pseudo-rapidity range are presented as a function of the
collision centrality, particle separation in pseudo-rapidity, and transverse
momentum. A clear signal compatible with a charge-dependent separation relative
to the reaction plane is observed, which shows little or no collision energy
dependence when compared to measurements at RHIC energies. This provides a new
insight for understanding the nature of the charge dependent azimuthal
correlations observed at RHIC and LHC energies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 captioned figures, authors from page 2 to 6, published
version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/286
A note on comonotonicity and positivity of the control components of decoupled quadratic FBSDE
In this small note we are concerned with the solution of Forward-Backward
Stochastic Differential Equations (FBSDE) with drivers that grow quadratically
in the control component (quadratic growth FBSDE or qgFBSDE). The main theorem
is a comparison result that allows comparing componentwise the signs of the
control processes of two different qgFBSDE. As a byproduct one obtains
conditions that allow establishing the positivity of the control process.Comment: accepted for publicatio
Transverse sphericity of primary charged particles in minimum bias proton-proton collisions at , 2.76 and 7 TeV
Measurements of the sphericity of primary charged particles in minimum bias
proton--proton collisions at , 2.76 and 7 TeV with the ALICE
detector at the LHC are presented. The observable is linearized to be collinear
safe and is measured in the plane perpendicular to the beam direction using
primary charged tracks with GeV/c in . The
mean sphericity as a function of the charged particle multiplicity at
mid-rapidity () is reported for events with different
scales ("soft" and "hard") defined by the transverse momentum of the leading
particle. In addition, the mean charged particle transverse momentum versus
multiplicity is presented for the different event classes, and the sphericity
distributions in bins of multiplicity are presented. The data are compared with
calculations of standard Monte Carlo event generators. The transverse
sphericity is found to grow with multiplicity at all collision energies, with a
steeper rise at low , whereas the event generators show the
opposite tendency. The combined study of the sphericity and the mean with multiplicity indicates that most of the tested event generators
produce events with higher multiplicity by generating more back-to-back jets
resulting in decreased sphericity (and isotropy). The PYTHIA6 generator with
tune PERUGIA-2011 exhibits a noticeable improvement in describing the data,
compared to the other tested generators.Comment: 21 pages, 9 captioned figures, 3 tables, authors from page 16,
published version, figures from
http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/308
Compressed representation of a partially defined integer function over multiple arguments
In OLAP (OnLine Analitical Processing) data are analysed in an n-dimensional cube. The cube may be represented as a partially defined function over n arguments. Considering that often the function is not defined everywhere, we ask: is there a known way of representing the function or the points in which it is defined, in a more compact manner than the trivial one
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