3,902 research outputs found
Quark model description of quasi-elastic pion knockout from the proton at JLAB
The interference term between s- and t-pole contributions to the p(e,e' pi+)n
cross section is evaluated on the basis of the constituent quark model. It is
shown that the contribution of baryon s-poles can be modeled by a nonlocal
extension of the Kroll-Rudermann contact term. This contribution is in a
destructive interference with the pion t-pole that is essential to improve the
description of recent JLab data at the invariant mass W=1.95 GeV. Some
predictions are made for a new JLab measurement at higher values W=2.1-2.3 GeV
and Q2 centered at 1.6 and 2.45 GeV2/c2.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Lett.
A Rapid, Physiologic Protocol for Testing Transcriptional Effects of Thyroid-Disrupting Agents in Premetamorphic Xenopus Tadpoles
Increasing numbers of substances present in the environment are postulated to have endocrine-disrupting effects on vertebrate populations. However, data on disruption of thyroid signaling are fragmentary, particularly at the molecular level. Thyroid hormone (TH; triiodothyronine, T(3)) acts principally by modulating transcription from target genes; thus, thyroid signaling is particularly amenable to analysis with a transcriptional assay. Also, T(3) orchestrates amphibian metamorphosis, thereby providing an exceptional model for identifying thyroid-disrupting chemicals. We combined these two advantages to develop a method for following and quantifying the transcriptional action of T(3) in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. This technology provides a means of assessing thyroid activity at the molecular level in a physiologically relevant situation. Moreover, translucent tadpoles are amenable to âon-lineâ imaging with fluorescent reporter constructs that facilitate in vivo measurement of transcriptional activity. We adapted transgenesis with TH-responsive elements coupled to either luciferase or green fluorescent protein to follow T(3)-dependent transcription in vivo. To reduce time of exposure and to synchronize responses, we optimized a physiologic pre-treatment protocol that induced competence to respond to T(3) and thus to assess T(3) effects and T(3) disruption within 48 hr. This pretreatment protocol was based on a short (24 hr), weak (10(â12) M) pulse of T(3) that induced TH receptors, facilitating and synchronizing the transcriptional responses. This protocol was successfully applied to somatic and germinal transgenesis with both reporter systems. Finally, we show that the transcriptional assay allows detection of the thyroid-disrupting activity of environmentally relevant concentrations (10(â8) M) of acetochlor, a persistent herbicide
New Renormalization Group Results for Scaling of Self-Avoiding Tethered Membranes
The scaling properties of self-avoiding polymerized 2-dimensional membranes
are studied via renormalization group methods based on a multilocal operator
product expansion. The renormalization group functions are calculated to second
order. This yields the scaling exponent nu to order epsilon^2. Our
extrapolations for nu agree with the Gaussian variational estimate for large
space dimension d and are close to the Flory estimate for d=3. The interplay
between self-avoidance and rigidity at small d is briefly discussed.Comment: 97 pages, 120 .eps-file
Cell Movement patterns during gastrulation in the chick are controlled by positive and negative chemotaxis mediated by FGF4 and FGF8
AbstractDuring gastrulation in amniotes, epiblast cells ingress through the primitive streak and migrate away to form endodermal, mesodermal, and extraembryonic structures. Here we analyze the detailed movement trajectories of cells emerging at different anterior-posterior positions from the primitive streak, using in vivo imaging of the movement of GFP-tagged streak cells. Cells emerging at different anterior-posterior positions from the streak show characteristic cell migration patterns, in response to guidance signals from neighboring tissues. Streak cells are attracted by sources of FGF4 and repelled by sources of FGF8. The observed movement patterns of anterior streak cells can be explained by an FGF8-mediated chemorepulsion of cells away from the streak followed by chemoattraction toward an FGF4 signal produced by the forming notochord
The Statistical Mechanics of Membranes
The fluctuations of two-dimensional extended objects membranes is a rich and
exciting field with many solid results and a wide range of open issues. We
review the distinct universality classes of membranes, determined by the local
order, and the associated phase diagrams. After a discussion of several
physical examples of membranes we turn to the physics of crystalline (or
polymerized) membranes in which the individual monomers are rigidly bound. We
discuss the phase diagram with particular attention to the dependence on the
degree of self-avoidance and anisotropy. In each case we review and discuss
analytic, numerical and experimental predictions of critical exponents and
other key observables. Particular emphasis is given to the results obtained
from the renormalization group epsilon-expansion. The resulting renormalization
group flows and fixed points are illustrated graphically. The full technical
details necessary to perform actual calculations are presented in the
Appendices. We then turn to a discussion of the role of topological defects
whose liberation leads to the hexatic and fluid universality classes. We finish
with conclusions and a discussion of promising open directions for the future.Comment: 75 LaTeX pages, 36 figures. To appear in Physics Reports in the
Proceedings of RG2000, Taxco, 199
Access and utilisation of maternity care for disabled women who experience domestic abuse:a systematic review
BACKGROUND: Although disabled women are significantly more likely to experience domestic abuse during pregnancy than non-disabled women, very little is known about how maternity care access and utilisation is affected by the co-existence of disability and domestic abuse. This systematic review of the literature explored how domestic abuse impacts upon disabled womenâs access to maternity services. METHODS: Eleven articles were identified through a search of six electronic databases and data were analysed to identify: the factors that facilitate or compromise access to care; the consequences of inadequate care for pregnant womenâs health and wellbeing; and the effectiveness of existing strategies for improvement. RESULTS: Findings indicate that a mental health diagnosis, poor relationships with health professionals and environmental barriers can compromise womenâs utilisation of maternity services. Domestic abuse can both compromise, and catalyse, access to services and social support is a positive factor when accessing care. Delayed and inadequate care has adverse effects on womenâs physical and psychological health, however further research is required to fully explore the nature and extent of these consequences. Only one study identified strategies currently being used to improve access to services for disabled women experiencing abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Based upon the barriers and facilitators identified within the review, we suggest that future strategies for improvement should focus on: understanding womenâs reasons for accessing care; fostering positive relationships; being women-centred; promoting environmental accessibility; and improving the strength of the evidence base
Millets across Eurasia: chronology and context of early records of the genera Panicum and Setaria from archaeological sites in the Old World
We have collated and reviewed published records of the genera Panicum and Setaria (Poaceae), including the domesticated millets Panicum miliaceum L. (broomcorn millet) and Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) in pre-5000 cal b.c. sites across the Old World. Details of these sites, which span China, central-eastern Europe including the Caucasus, Iran, Syria and Egypt, are presented with associated calibrated radiocarbon dates. Forty-one sites have records of Panicum (P. miliaceum, P. cf. miliaceum, Panicum sp., Panicum type, P. capillare (?) and P. turgidum) and 33 of Setaria (S. italica, S. viridis, S. viridis/verticillata, Setaria sp., Setaria type). We identify problems of taphonomy, identification criteria and reporting, and inference of domesticated/wild and crop/weed status of finds. Both broomcorn and foxtail millet occur in northern China prior to 5000 cal b.c.; P. miliaceum occurs contemporaneously in Europe, but its significance is unclear. Further work is needed to resolve the above issues before the status of these taxa in this period can be fully evaluated
Exercise training as a novel primary treatment for localised prostate cancer: a multi-site randomised controlled phase II study
Alternative management strategies for localised prostate cancer are required to reduce morbidity and overtreatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and acceptability of exercise training (ET) with behavioural support as a primary therapy for low/intermediate risk localised prostate cancer.
Men with low/intermediate-risk prostate cancer were randomised to 12 months of ET or usual care with physical activity advice (UCwA) in a multi-site open label RCT. Feasibility included acceptability, recruitment, retention, adherence, adverse events and disease progression. Secondary outcomes included quality of life and cardiovascular health indices.
Of the 50 men randomised to ET (n=25) or UCwA (n=25), 92% (n=46) completed 12 month assessments. Three men progressed to invasive therapy (two in UCwA). In the ET group, men completed mean: 140 mins per week for 12 months (95% CI 129,152mins) (94% of target dose) at 75% Hrmax. Men in the ET group demonstrated improved body mass (mean reduction: 2.0 kg; 95% CI -2.9,-1.1), reduced systolic (mean: 13 mmHg; 95% CI 7,19) and diastolic blood pressure (mean:8 mmHg; 95% CI 5,12) and improved quality of life (EQ5D mean:13 points; 95% CI 7,18). There were no serious adverse events.
ET in men with low/intermediate risk prostate cancer is feasible and acceptable with a low progression rate to radical treatment. Early signals on clinically relevant markers were found which warrant further investigation
Operator Product Expansion and Quark-Hadron Duality: Facts and Riddles
We review the status of the practical operator product expansion (OPE), when
applied to two-point correlators of QCD currents which interpolate to mesonic
resonances, in view of the violations of local quark-hadron duality. Covered
topics are: a mini-review of mesonic QCD sum rules in vacuum, at finite
temperature, or at finite baryon density, a comparison of model calculations of
current-current correlation functions in 2D and 4D with the OPE expression, a
discussion of meson distribution amplitudes in the light of nonperturbatively
nonlocal modifications of the OPE, and a reorganization of the OPE which
(partially) resums powers of covariant derivatives.Comment: now 68 pages, 29 figures (1 figure added), habilitation thesis, mild
restructuring, typos corrected, about 30 references and corresponding text
added, version to be published in Prog. Part. Nucl. Phy
Computational Analysis of Pulsed Radiofrequency Ablation in Treating Chronic Pain
In this paper, a parametric study has been conducted to evaluate the effects of frequency and duration of the short burst pulses during pulsed radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating chronic pain. Affecting the brain and nervous system, this disease remains one of the major challenges in neuroscience and clinical practice. A two-dimensional axisymmetric RFA model has been developed in which a single needle radiofrequency electrode has been inserted. A finite-element-based coupled thermo-electric analysis has been carried out utilizing the simplified Maxwellâs equations and the Pennes bioheat transfer
equation to compute the electric field and temperature distributions within the computational domain. Comparative studies have been carried out between the continuous and pulsed RFA to highlight the significance of pulsed RFA in chronic pain treatment. The frequencies and durations of short burst RF pulses have been varied from 1 Hz to 10 Hz and from 10 ms to 50 ms, respectively. Such values are most commonly applied in clinical practices for mitigation of chronic pain. By reporting such critical input characteristics as temperature distributions for different frequencies and durations of the RF pulses, this computational study aims at providing the first-hand accurate quantitative information to the clinicians on possible consequences in those cases where these characteristics are varied during the pulsed RFA procedure. The results demonstrate that the efficacy of pulsed RFA is significantly dependent on the duration and frequency of the RF pulses
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