5,815 research outputs found
Stochastic model for the dynamics of interacting Brownian particles
Using the scheme of mesoscopic nonequilibrium thermodynamics, we construct
the one- and two- particle Fokker-Planck equations for a system of interacting
Brownian particles. By means of these equations we derive the corresponding
balance equations. We obtain expressions for the heat flux and the pressure
tensor which enable one to describe the kinetic and potential energy
interchange of the particles with the heat bath. Through the momentum balance
we analyze in particular the diffusion regime to obtain the collective
diffusion coefficient in terms of the hydrodynamic and the effective forces
acting on the Brownian particles.Comment: latex fil
Excessive Mechanotransduction in Sensory Neurons Causes Joint Contractures
Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a collection of rare disorders that are characterized by congenital joint contractures. Most DA mutations are in muscle- and joint-related genes, and the anatomical defects originate cell-autonomously within the musculoskeletal system. However, gain-of-function mutations in PIEZO2, a principal mechanosensor in somatosensation, cause DA subtype 5 (DA5) through unknown mechanisms. We show that expression of a gain-of-function PIEZO2 mutation in proprioceptive sensory neurons that mainly innervate muscle spindles and tendons is sufficient to induce DA5-like phenotypes in mice. Overactive PIEZO2 causes anatomical defects through increased activity within the peripheral nervous system during postnatal development. Furthermore, botulinum toxin (Botox) and a dietary fatty acid that modulates PIEZO2 activity reduce DA5-like deficits. This reveals a role for somatosensory neurons: Excessive mechanosensation within these neurons disrupts musculoskeletal development
Elevated Plasma Endothelin-1 and Pulmonary Arterial Pressure in Children Exposed to Air Pollution
BackgroundControlled exposures of animals and humans to particulate matter (PM) or ozone air pollution cause an increase in plasma levels of endothelin-1, a potent vasoconstrictor that regulates pulmonary arterial pressure.ObjectivesThe primary objective of this field study was to determine whether Mexico City children, who are chronically exposed to levels of PM and O3 that exceed the United States air quality standards, have elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels and pulmonary arterial pressures.MethodsWe conducted a study of 81 children, 7.9 ± 1.3 years of age, lifelong residents of either northeast (n = 19) or southwest (n = 40) Mexico City or PolotitlĂĄn (n = 22), a control city with PM and O3 levels below the U.S. air quality standards. Clinical histories, physical examinations, and complete blood counts were done. Plasma endothelin-1 concentrations were determined by immunoassay, and pulmonary arterial pressures were measured by Doppler echocardiography.ResultsMexico City children had higher plasma endothelin-1 concentrations compared with controls (p < 0.001). Mean pulmonary arterial pressure was elevated in children from both northeast (p < 0.001) and southwest (p < 0.05) Mexico City compared with controls. Endothelin-1 levels in Mexico City children were positively correlated with daily outdoor hours (p = 0.012), and 7-day cumulative levels of PM air pollution < 2.5 ÎŒm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) before endothelin-1 measurement (p = 0.03).ConclusionsChronic exposure of children to PM2.5 is associated with increased levels of circulating endothelin-1 and elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure
CĂ©lulas cebadas en pulmĂłn y nervio perifĂ©rico en la intoxicaciĂłn crĂłnica con karwinskia humboldtiana en rata wistar: estudios histolĂłgico e histoquĂmico = Lung and peripheral nerve mast cells in chronic intoxication with karwinskia humboldtiana in wistar rat: histological and histochemical Studies
Karwinskia humboldtiana (Kh) es un arbusto venenoso responsable de numerosos casos de intoxicaciĂłn accidental en humanos. En estudios previos en nuestro laboratorio reportamos un incremento de cĂ©lulas cebadas en nervio perifĂ©rico (NP) durante la intoxicaciĂłn con Kh, este hallazgo no ha sido reportado previamente en otros Ăłrganos durante esta intoxicaciĂłn por lo que en el presente estudio buscamos la presencia de estas cĂ©lulas en otros Ăłrganos, ademĂĄs de distinguir subpoblaciones de cĂ©lulas cebadas mediante reacciones histoquĂmicas para la identificaciĂłn de los grĂĄnulos de secreciĂłn. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la presencia de cĂ©lulas cebadas en Ăłrganos distintos al NP y diferenciar histoquĂmicamente la composiciĂłn de sus grĂĄnulos. Se utilizaron 32 ratas Wistar, se dividieron en cuatro
grupos (n= 8) en donde 5 ratas de cada grupo fueron intoxicadas y 3 fueron control no intoxicadas. A las ratas intoxicadas se les administraron por vĂa oral 3,5 g/kg del fruto seco y molido de Kh fraccionados en 5 dosis de 1,5; 0,5, 0,5; 0,5 y 0,5 g/kg los dĂas 0, 3, 7, 10 y 14 respectivamente. Las ratas control solo recibieron agua. Cada grupo fue sacrificado a diferentes tiempos segĂșn la evoluciĂłn de la parĂĄlisis. Se obtuvieron
muestras de HĂgado, Riñón, PulmĂłn y SNP, se procesaron hasta obtener bloques de parafina, se obtuvieron cortes y se tiñeron con azul de toluidina, PAS, Azul alciano/PAS y Azul alciano/Safranina. Se identificĂł la presencia de cĂ©lulas cebadas en NP y pulmĂłn con la tinciĂłn de
azul de toluidina y se realizo un estudio morfomĂ©trico observando un incremento progresivo del nĂșmero de cĂ©lulas cebadas por grupo asĂ como variaciones histoquĂmicas en sus grĂĄnulos en cada etapa y Ăłrgano analizado, lo que sugiere la participaciĂłn de las cĂ©lulas cebadas y sus
secreciones en cada una de las etapas de la intoxicaciĂłn crĂłnica con el fruto maduro de Kh
Reproductive and seminal characteristics of Pelibuey rams infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the subclinical stage
Objective: To evaluate the reproductive and seminal characteristics of Pelibuey rams infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the subclinical phase.
Design/methodology/approach: In order to determine whether paratuberculosis (PTB) affects the reproductive variables and seminal quality in Pelibuey rams naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in the subclinical phase, weekly evaluations were conducted, over a period of two months, of the variables live weight, scrotal circumference, ejaculation latency and seminal characteristics: volume, pH, masal motility and progressive individual motility, concentration, live spermatozoids and dead spermatozoids, in five rams infected by MAP and a further five uninfected rams, of average weight and age 53.58 kg (± 3.26) and 2.91 years (± 0.59), respectively.
Results: PTB was not found to affect the reproductive and seminal variables evaluated.
Limitations of the study/implications: It would have been convenient to carry out the evaluation of the seminal characteristics for a longer time, however, the sampling was stopped in order to ensure the animal welfare of the rams as far as possible, since they began to show signs of PTB.
Findings/Conclusions: The Pelibuey rams diagnosed with PTB in subclinical phase did not present any effect on the reproductive and seminal characteristics. Meanwhile, reproductive management can be carried out with PTB-infected Pelibuey lambs in a subclinical phase.Objective: To evaluate the reproductive and seminal characteristics of Pelibuey rams infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in the subclinical phase.
Design/methodology/approach: In order to determine whether paratuberculosis (PTB) affects the reproductive variables and seminal quality in Pelibuey rams naturally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in the subclinical phase, weekly evaluations were conducted, over a period of two months, of the variables live weight, scrotal circumference, ejaculation latency and seminal characteristics: volume, pH, masal motility and progressive individual motility, concentration, live spermatozoids and dead spermatozoids, in five rams infected by MAP and a further five uninfected rams, of average weight and age 53.58 kg (± 3.26) and 2.91 years (± 0.59), respectively.
Results: PTB was not found to affect the reproductive and seminal variables evaluated.
Limitations of the study/implications: It would have been convenient to carry out the evaluation of the seminal characteristics for a longer time, however, the sampling was stopped in order to ensure the animal welfare of the rams as far as possible, since they began to show signs of PTB.
Findings/Conclusions: The Pelibuey rams diagnosed with PTB in subclinical phase did not present any effect on the reproductive and seminal characteristics. Meanwhile, reproductive management can be carried out with PTB-infected Pelibuey lambs in a subclinical phase
Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay
channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7
TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector,
and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No
significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper
limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the
standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at
95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE
Search for New Physics with Jets and Missing Transverse Momentum in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for new physics is presented based on an event signature of at least
three jets accompanied by large missing transverse momentum, using a data
sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 36 inverse picobarns
collected in proton--proton collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV with the CMS detector
at the LHC. No excess of events is observed above the expected standard model
backgrounds, which are all estimated from the data. Exclusion limits are
presented for the constrained minimal supersymmetric extension of the standard
model. Cross section limits are also presented using simplified models with new
particles decaying to an undetected particle and one or two jets
Search for anomalous t t-bar production in the highly-boosted all-hadronic final state
A search is presented for a massive particle, generically referred to as a
Z', decaying into a t t-bar pair. The search focuses on Z' resonances that are
sufficiently massive to produce highly Lorentz-boosted top quarks, which yield
collimated decay products that are partially or fully merged into single jets.
The analysis uses new methods to analyze jet substructure, providing
suppression of the non-top multijet backgrounds. The analysis is based on a
data sample of proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV,
corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5 inverse femtobarns. Upper limits
in the range of 1 pb are set on the product of the production cross section and
branching fraction for a topcolor Z' modeled for several widths, as well as for
a Randall--Sundrum Kaluza--Klein gluon. In addition, the results constrain any
enhancement in t t-bar production beyond expectations of the standard model for
t t-bar invariant masses larger than 1 TeV.Comment: Submitted to the Journal of High Energy Physics; this version
includes a minor typo correction that will be submitted as an erratu
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