New insight into WDVV equation

We show that Witten-Dijkgraaf-Verlinde-Verlinde equation underlies the construction of N=4 superconformal multi--particle mechanics in one dimension, including a N=4 superconformal Calogero model.Comment: 16 pages, no figures, LaTeX file, PACS: 04.60.Ds; 11.30.P

BRST Detour Quantization

We present the BRST cohomologies of a class of constraint (super) Lie algebras as detour complexes. By giving physical interpretations to the components of detour complexes as gauge invariances, Bianchi identities and equations of motion we obtain a large class of new gauge theories. The pivotal new machinery is a treatment of the ghost Hilbert space designed to manifest the detour structure. Along with general results, we give details for three of these theories which correspond to gauge invariant spinning particle models of totally symmetric, antisymmetric and K\"ahler antisymmetric forms. In particular, we give details of our recent announcement of a (p,q)-form K\"ahler electromagnetism. We also discuss how our results generalize to other special geometries.Comment: 43 pages, LaTeX, added reference

Spinal Anesthesia and Minimal Invasive Laminotomy for Paddle Electrode Placement in Spinal Cord Stimulation: Technical Report and Clinical Results at Long-Term Followup

Object. We arranged a mini-invasive surgical approach for implantation of paddle electrodes for SCS under spinal anesthesia obtaining the best paddle electrode placement and minimizing patients' discomfort. We describe our technique supported by neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring and clinical results. Methods. 16 patients, affected by neuropathic pain underwent the implantation of paddle electrodes for spinal cord stimulation in lateral decubitus under spinal anesthesia. The paddle was introduced after flavectomy and each patient confirmed the correct distribution of paresthesias induced by intraoperative test stimulation. VAS and patients' satisfaction rate were recorded during the followup and compared to preoperative values. Results. No patients reported discomfort during the procedure. In all cases, paresthesias coverage of the total painful region was achieved, allowing the best final electrode positioning. At the last followup (mean 36.7 months), 87.5% of the implanted patients had a good rate of satisfaction with a mean VAS score improvement of 70.5%. Conclusions. Spinal cord stimulation under spinal anesthesia allows an optimal positioning of the paddle electrodes without any discomfort for patients or neurosurgeons. The best intraoperative positioning allows a better postoperative control of pain, avoiding the risk of blind placements of the paddle or further surgery for their replacement

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation reduces remote apoptotic cell death and inflammation after focal brain injury.

After focal brain injuries occur, in addition to the effects that are attributable to the primary site of damage, the resulting functional impairments depend highly on changes that occur in regions that are remote but functionally connected to the site of injury. Such effects are associated with apoptotic and inflammatory cascades and are considered to be important predictors of outcome. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive technique that is used to treat various central nervous system (CNS) pathologies and enhance functional recovery after brain damage. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the efficacy of rTMS in mitigating remote degeneration and inflammation and in improving functional recovery in a model of focal brain damage. METHODS: Rats that were undergoing hemicerebellectomy (HCb) were treated with an rTMS protocol for 7 days, and neuronal death indices, glial activation, and functional recovery were assessed. RESULTS: rTMS significantly reduced neuronal death and glial activation in remote regions and improved functional recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding opens up a completely new scenario for exploiting the potential of rTMS as an anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory treatment

Distribution of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone in a patient with acute myocardial infarction after intravenous administration

The autopsy tissues concentration of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone of a man with acute myocardial infarction treated acutely with intravenous amiodarone is reported. Our data indicate that amiodarone is quickly distributed into all highly perfused tissues after intravenous administration with a high amiodarone/desethylamiodarone ratio. We also report here the autopsy case of a woman who died after 30 days of oral therapy with amiodarone. The increase in heart/plasma ratio of amiodarone and desethylamiodarone concentrations and the decrease in amiodarone/desethylamiodarone ratio after one month of therapy could explain the latency in the antiarrhythmic action of the drug

Tragacanth Gum as Green Binder for Sustainable Water-Processable Electrochemical Capacitor

Enabling green fabrication processes for energy storage devices is becoming a key aspect in order to achieve a sustainable fabrication cycle. Here, the focus was on the exploitation of the tragacanth gum, an exudated gum like arabic and karaya gums, as green binder for the preparation of carbon‐based materials for electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical performance of tragacanth (TRGC)‐based electrodes was thoroughly investigated and compared with another water‐soluble binder largely used in this field, sodium‐carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Apart from the higher sustainability both in production and processing, TRGC exhibited a lower impact on the obstruction of pores in the final active material film with respect to CMC, allowing for more available surface area. This directly impacted the electrochemical performance, resulting in a higher specific capacitance and better rate capability. Moreover, the TRGC‐based supercapacitor showed a superior thermal stability compared with CMC, with a capacity retention of about 80 % after 10000 cycles at 70 °C

Tragacanth gum as green binder for sustainable water-processable electrochemical capacitor

9Enabling green fabrication processes for energy storage devices is becoming a key aspect in order to achieve a sustainable fabrication cycle. Here we focus on the exploitation of the tragacanth gum, an exudated gum like arabic and karaya gums, as green binder for the preparation of carbon-based for electrochemical capacitors. The electrochemical performance of tragacanth (TRGC)-based electrodes are thoroughly investigated and compared with another water-soluble binder largely used in this field, i.e. sodium-carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). Apart from the higher sustainability both in production and processing, TRGC exhibits a lower impact on the obstruction of pores in the final active material film with respect to CMC, allowing for more available surface area. This directly impacts on the electrochemical performances resulting in a higher specific capacitance and better rate capability. Moreover, the TRGC-based supercapacitor shows a superior thermal stability than CMC with a capacity retention of about 80 % after 10.000 cycles at 70 °C.partially_openopenScalia, Alberto; Zaccagnini, Pietro; Armandi, Marco; Latini, Giulio; Versaci, Daniele; Lanzio, Vittorino; Varzi, Alberto; Passerini, Stefano; Lamberti, AndreaScalia, Alberto; Zaccagnini, Pietro; Armandi, Marco; Latini, Giulio; Versaci, Daniele; Lanzio, Vittorino; Varzi, Alberto; Passerini, Stefano; Lamberti, Andre

Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CB2R) stimulation delays rubrospinal mitochondrial-dependent degeneration and improves functional recovery after spinal cord hemisection by ERK1/2 inactivation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition of CNS that often results in severe functional impairments for which there are no restorative therapies. As in other CNS injuries, in addition to the effects that are related to the primary site of damage, these impairments are caused by degeneration of distal regions that are connected functionally to the primary lesion site. Modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) counteracts this neurodegeneration, and pharmacological modulation of type-2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2R) is a promising therapeutic target for several CNS pathologies, including SCI. This study examined the effects of CB2R modulation on the fate of axotomized rubrospinal neurons (RSNs) and functional recovery in a model of spinal cord dorsal hemisection (SCH) at the cervical level in rats. SCH induced CB2R expression, severe atrophy, and cell death in contralateral RSNs. Furthermore, SCH affected molecular changes in the apoptotic cascade in RSNs - increased cytochrome c release, apoptosome formation, and caspase-3 activity. CB2R stimulation by its selective agonist JWH-015 significantly increased the bcl-2/bax ratio, reduced cytochrome c release, delayed atrophy and degeneration, and improved spontaneous functional recovery through ERK1/2 inactivation. These findings implicate the ECS, particularly CB2R, as part of the endogenous neuroprotective response that is triggered after SCI. Thus, CB2R modulation might represent a promising therapeutic target that lacks psychotropic effects and can be used to exploit ECS-based approaches to counteract neuronal degeneration

Molecular evaluation of Chagas disease reactivation and treatment follow-up in HIV coinfected patients

Background: Chagas disease reactivation is an AIDS defined illness that usually affects Central Nervous System. Gold-Standard diagnosis for T.cruzi reactivation is based on microscopical observation methods.Methods & Materials: Seven patients with HIV/AIDS diagnosis, T.cruzi serological findings, neurological disorders, and suspected of Chagas disease reactivation were included between 2015?2017 from two health centers of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Real-time PCRs (qPCR) against T.cruzi satellite DNA were carried out from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and peripheral blood samples (BS) for parasite load quantification. Molecular parasite characterization was based on amplification of spliced leader intergenic region, 24 srDNA, and A10 polymorphic sequences.Results: Patients were aged from 41 to 69 years old, 43% were women, CD4+ T cell counts were between 7 and 53 cell/mm3. All of them received tripanocidal treatment (TrypT).Five CSFs were withdrawn before TrypT starting. Two had microscopical detection of trypomastigote forms (MDTryp) and quantification over 500 p.e/mL by qPCR. The other 3 CSF samples were non-detectable by both methods. The remaining two patients CSF were obtained after starting TrypT with MDTryp negative findings but qPCR positive results with parasite burden below 13 p.e/mL.Among the 3 patients with negative CSF findings, 2 had positive MDTryp on BS with 119 and 3512 p.e/mL. The third was negative by MDTryp and had 2 p.e/mL before TrypT.All patients had qPCR positive findings on BS (2 -1426 p.e/mL) and decreased their parasitic loads during TrypT.All characterized parasites from BS and CSF samples belonged to DTU (Discrete Typing Unit) II, V or VI, frequently found in Southern Cone region.Out of this small series, 4 patients died: 2 because of brain ?Chagoma?, 1 due to status epilepticus and 1 due to acute abdomen. Two of the 3 survivors were those with negative CSF findings for both methods.Conclusion: Chagas disease reactivation occurred on deep inmunosupressed HIV people. Its diagnosis by MDTryp and qPCR is complementary. qPCR detected T.cruzi DNA on negative MDTryp findings even during treatment. TrypT always reduces T.cruzi DNA loads. qPCR might be an useful therapeutical marker.Fil: Fernandez, Marisa. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; ArgentinaFil: Besuschio, Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Nicita, D.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; ArgentinaFil: Latini, V.. Sanatorio de la Trinidad Mitre; ArgentinaFil: Biondi, M. L.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; ArgentinaFil: García, J.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; ArgentinaFil: Corti, Marcelo. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Infecciosas "Dr. Francisco Javier Muñiz"; ArgentinaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; ArgentinaFil: Burgos, J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina18th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresArgentinaInternational Society fot Infectious Disease

The value of some Corsican sub-populations for genetic association studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genetic isolates with a history of a small founder population, long-lasting isolation and population bottlenecks represent exceptional resources in the identification of disease genes. In these populations the disease allele reveals Linkage Disequilibrium (LD) with markers over significant genetic intervals, therefore facilitating disease locus identification. In a previous study we examined the LD extension on the Xq13 region in three Corsican sub-populations from the inner mountainous region of the island. On the basis of those previous results we have proposed a multistep procedure to carry out studies aimed at the identification of genes involved in complex diseases in Corsica. A prerequisite to carry out the proposed multi-step procedure was the presence of different degrees of LD on the island and a common genetic derivation of the different Corsican sub-populations. In order to evaluate the existence of these conditions in the present paper we extended the analysis to the Corsican coastal populations.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Samples were analyzed using seven dinucleotide microsatellite markers on chromosome Xq13-21: DXS983, DXS986, DXS8092, DXS8082, DXS1225, DXS8037 and DXS995 spanning approximately 4.0 cM (13.3 Mb). We have also investigated the distribution of the DXS1225-DXS8082 haplotype which has been recently proposed as a good marker of population genetic history due to its low recombination rate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>the results obtained indicate a decrease of LD on the island from the central mountainous toward the coastal sub-populations. In addition the analysis of the DXS1225-DXS8082 haplotype revealed: 1) the presence of a particular haplotype with high frequency; 2) the derivation from a common genetic pool of the sub-populations examined in the present study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate the Corsican sub-populations useful for the fine mapping of genes contributing to complex diseases.</p