Role for TGF-beta superfamily signaling in telencephalic GABAergic neuron development.

Signaling mechanisms mediated by the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily regulate a variety of developmental processes. Here we show that components of both bone morphogenetic protein/growth differentiation factor and TGF-beta/activin/Nodal branches of TGF-beta superfamily signaling are expressed in the developing subpallium. Furthermore, Smad proteins, transcriptional effectors of TGF-beta signaling, are co-expressed and physically interact in the basal ganglia with Dlx homeodomain transcription factors, which are critical regulators of the differentiation, migration and survival of telencephalic GABAergic neurons. We also show that Dlx and Smad proteins localize to promoters/enhancers of a number of common telencephalic genes in vivo and that Smad proteins co-activate transcription with Dlx family members, except with certain mutated human DLX proteins identified in autistic individuals. In agreement with these observations, expression of dominant-negative Smads in the developing basal ganglia phenocopies the cell migration defects observed in Dlx1/2-deficient mice. Together, these results suggest that TGF-beta superfamily signaling plays a role in telencephalic GABAergic neuron development through functional interactions with Dlx transcription factors. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11689-009-9035-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Management of an Accessory Bile Duct Leak Following Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Novel Approach Utilizing a Percutaneous and Endoscopic Rendezvous.

Biliary leaks are uncommon but morbid complications of pancreaticoduodenectomies, which have historically been managed with percutaneous drainage, reoperation, or a combination of both. We report a de novo percutaneous-endoscopic hepaticojejunostomy from an anomalous right hepatic duct injured during pancreaticoduodenectomy to the afferent bowel limb. The percutaneous-endoscopic hepaticojejunostomy was stented to allow for tract formation with successful stent removal after 5.5 months. One year after the creation of the percutaneous-endoscopic hepaticojejunostomy, the patient remains clinically well without evidence of biliary leak or obstruction

Spatial and frequency domain effects of defects in 1D photonic crystal

The aim of this paper is to present the analysis of influence of defects in 1D photonic crystal (PC) on the density of states and simultaneously spontaneous emission, in both spatial and frequency domains. In our investigations we use an analytic model of 1D PC with defects. Our analysis reveals how presence of a defect causes a defect mode to appear. We show that a defect in 1D PC has local character, being negligible in regions of PC situated far from the defected elementary cell. We also analyze the effect of multiple defects, which lead to photonic band gap splitting.Comment: presented at International Workshop on Physics of Photonic Crystals and Metamaterials, Brussels, Belgium, 12-13.06.200

Sr‐ and Ni‐Doped LaCoO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e and LaFeO\u3csub\u3e3\u3c/sub\u3e Perovskites: New Cathode Materials for Solid‐Oxide Fuel Cells

An improved cathode material for a solid‐oxide fuel cell would be a mixed electronic and oxide‐ion conductor with a good catalytic activity for oxygen reduction at an operating temperature T op ≥ 700°C and a thermal expansion matched to that of the electrolyte and interconnect. We report on the properties of Sr‐ and Ni‐doped LaCoO3 and LaFeO3 perovskites that meet these criteria. Single‐phase regions were determined by X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis measurements were used to obtain the temperatures above which oxygen loss, and hence oxide‐ion conductivity, occurs. The conductivity and Seebeck measurements indicate the coexistence of both p‐type and n‐type polaronic charge carriers resulting from an overlap of the NiIII/Ni2+ redox couple with the low‐spin/intermediate‐spin CoIV/Coiii and high‐spin Fe4+/Fe3+ redox couples. Motional enthalpies ΔHm = 0.03, 0.02, and 0.08 eV, respectively, were estimated for Ni2+, CoIV, and Fe4+ polarons. Optimal compositions have percolation pathways between dopants. Comparisons with transport data for the conventional cathode materials La1-xSrxCoO3-δ and La1-xSrxMnO3 indicate superior cathode performance can be expected

EUS-guided portal pressure gradient measurement with a simple novel device: a human pilot study.

Background and aimsPortal hypertension is a serious adverse event of liver cirrhosis. Recently, we developed a simple novel technique for EUS-guided portal pressure gradient (PPG) measurement (PPGM). Our animal studies showed excellent correlation between EUS-PPGM and interventional radiology-acquired PPGM. In this video we demonstrate the results of the first human pilot study of EUS-PPGM in patients with liver disease.MethodsEUS-PPGM was performed by experienced endosonographers using a linear echoendoscope, a 25-gauge FNA needle, and a novel compact manometer. The portal vein and hepatic vein (or inferior vena cava) were targeted by use of a transgastric or transduodenal approach. Feasibility was defined as successful PPGM in each patient. Safety was based on adverse events captured in a postprocedural interview.ResultsTwenty-eight patients underwent EUS-PPGM with 100% technical success and no adverse events. PPG ranged from 1.5 to 19 mm Hg and had excellent correlation with clinical parameters of portal hypertension, including the presence of varices (P = .0002), PH gastropathy (P = .007), and thrombocytopenia (P = .036).ConclusionThis novel technique of EUS-PPGM using a 25-gauge needle and compact manometer is feasible and appears safe. Given the availability of EUS and the simplicity of the manometry setup, EUS-guided PPG may represent a promising breakthrough for procuring indispensable information in the management of patients with liver disease

B-Meson Observables in the Maximally CP-Violating MSSM with Minimal Flavour Violation

Additional sources of CP violation in the MSSM may affect B-meson mixings and decays, even in scenarios with minimal flavour violation (MFV). We formulate the maximally CP-violating and minimally flavour-violating (MCPMFV) variant of the MSSM, which has 19 parameters, including 6 phases that violate CP. We then develop a manifestly flavour-covariant effective Lagrangian formalism for calculating Higgs-mediated FCNC observables in the MSSM at large tan(beta), and analyze within the MCPMFV framework FCNC and other processes involving B mesons. We include a new class of dominant subleading contributions due to non-decoupling effects of the third-generation quarks. We present illustrative numerical results that include effects of the CP-odd MCPMFV parameters on Higgs and sparticle masses, the B_s and B_d mass differences, and on the decays B_s --> mu+ mu-, B_u --> tau nu and b --> s gamma. We use these results to derive illustrative constraints on the MCPMFV parameters imposed by D0, CDF, BELLE and BABAR measurements of B mesons, demonstrating how a potentially observable contribution to the CP asymmetry in the b --> s gamma decay may arise in the MSSM with MCPMFV.Comment: 47 pages, 8 eps figures, comments and references added, accepted for publication in Physical Review D, Eq.(3.2) correcte

Asymptotic gluing of asymptotically hyperbolic solutions to the Einstein constraint equations

We show that asymptotically hyperbolic solutions of the Einstein constraint equations with constant mean curvature can be glued in such a way that their asymptotic regions are connected.Comment: 37 pages; 2 figure

Obstructed D-Branes in Landau-Ginzburg Orbifolds

We study deformations of Landau-Ginzburg D-branes corresponding to obstructed rational curves on Calabi-Yau threefolds. We determine D-brane moduli spaces and D-brane superpotentials by evaluating higher products up to homotopy in the Landau-Ginzburg orbifold category. For concreteness we work out the details for lines on a perturbed Fermat quintic. In this case we show that our results reproduce the local analytic structure of the Hilbert scheme of curves on the threefold.Comment: 44 pages; v3: typos correcte