1,849 research outputs found
A simple fractional-calculus approach to the solutions of the Bessel differential equation of general order and some of its applications
AbstractIn many recent works, several authors demonstrated the usefulness of fractional calculus operators in the derivation of (explicit) particular solutions of a significantly large number of linear ordinary and partial differential equations of the second and higher orders. The main object of the present paper is to show how this simple fractional-calculus approach to the solutions of the classical Bessel differential equation of general order would lead naturally to several interesting consequences which include (for example) an alternative investigation of the power-series solutions obtainable usually by the Frobenius method. The methodology presented here is based largely upon some of the general theorems on (explicit) particular solutions of a certain family of linear ordinary fractional differintegral equations
Multi-neutron transfer coupling in sub-barrier 32S+90,96Zr fusion reactions
The role of neutron transfers is investigated in the fusion process below the
Coulomb barrier by analyzing 32S+90Zr and 32S+96Zr as benchmark reactions. A
full coupled-channel calculation of the fusion excitation functions has been
performed for both systems by using multi-neutron transfer coupling for the
more neutron-rich reaction. The enhancement of fusion cross sections for
32S+96Zr is well reproduced at sub-barrier energies by NTFus code calculations
including the coupling of the neutron-transfer channels following the Zagrebaev
semiclassical model. We found similar effects for 40Ca+90Zr and 40Ca+96Zr
fusion excitation functions.Comment: Minor corrections, 11 pages, 4 figures, Fusion11 Conference, Saint
Malo, France, 2-6 mai 201
Solutions of a certain class of fractional differintegral equations
AbstractRecently, several authors demonstrated the usefulness of fractional calculus in obtaining particular solutions of a number of such familiar second-order differential equations as those associated with Gauss, Legendre, Jacobi, Chebyshev, Coulomb, Whittaker, Euler, Hermite, and Weber equations. The main object of this paper is to show how some of the latest contributions on the subject by Tu et al. [1], involving the associated Legendre, Euler, and Hermite equations, can be presented in a unified manner by suitably appealing to a general theorem on particular solutions of a certain class of fractional differintegral equations
Study of the Anti-Proliferative Activity of 5-Substituted 4,7-Dimethoxy-1,3-Benzodioxole Derivatives of SY-1 from Antrodia camphorata on Human COLO 205 Colon Cancer Cells
A set of 10 4,7-dimethoxy-1,3-benzodioxole derivatives based on a lead compound previously discovered by our group, SY-1, which was isolated from Antrodia camphorata, were evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity on human colorectal carcinoma cells (COLO 205). Structure-activity relationship studies of the 10 compounds indicated the importance of the chain length of the alkyl group at the 5-position, and the 2-propenyl substituent named âapioleâ exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity. In the present study, we demonstrate that the SY-1 analogue âapioleâ decreased the proliferation of COLO 205 cells, but not that of normal human colonic epithelial cells (FHC). The G0/G1 cell cycle arrest induced by apiole (75â225âÎŒM) was associated with significantly increased levels of p53, p21 and p27 and decreased levels of cyclin D1. Concerning COLO 205 cell apoptosis, apiole (>150âÎŒM) treatment significantly increased the levels of cleaved caspases 3, 8, 9 and bax/bcl-2 ratio and induced ladder formation in DNA fragmentation assay and sub-G1 peak in flow cytometry analysis. These findings suggest that apiole can suppress COLO 205 cell growth; however, the detailed mechanisms of these processes require further investigation
Interpreting Helioseismic Structure Inversion Results of Solar Active Regions
Helioseismic techniques such as ring-diagram analysis have often been used to
determine the subsurface structural differences between solar active and quiet
regions. Results obtained by inverting the frequency differences between the
regions are usually interpreted as the sound-speed differences between them.
These in turn are used as a measure of temperature and magnetic-field strength
differences between the two regions. In this paper we first show that the
"sound-speed" difference obtained from inversions is actually a combination of
sound-speed difference and a magnetic component. Hence, the inversion result is
not directly related to the thermal structure. Next, using solar models that
include magnetic fields, we develop a formulation to use the inversion results
to infer the differences in the magnetic and thermal structures between active
and quiet regions. We then apply our technique to existing structure inversion
results for different pairs of active and quiet regions. We find that the
effect of magnetic fields is strongest in a shallow region above 0.985R_sun and
that the strengths of magnetic-field effects at the surface and in the deeper
(r < 0.98R_sun) layers are inversely related, i.e., the stronger the surface
magnetic field the smaller the magnetic effects in the deeper layers, and vice
versa. We also find that the magnetic effects in the deeper layers are the
strongest in the quiet regions, consistent with the fact that these are
basically regions with weakest magnetic fields at the surface. Because the
quiet regions were selected to precede or follow their companion active
regions, the results could have implications about the evolution of magnetic
fields under active regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Rapid Noninvasive Skin Monitoring by Surface Mass Recording and Data Learning.
Skin problems are often overlooked due to a lack of robust and patient-friendly monitoring tools. Herein, we report a rapid, noninvasive, and high-throughput analytical chemical methodology, aiming at real-time monitoring of skin conditions and early detection of skin disorders. Within this methodology, adhesive sampling and laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry are coordinated to record skin surface molecular mass in minutes. Automated result interpretation is achieved by data learning, using similarity scoring and machine learning algorithms. Feasibility of the methodology has been demonstrated after testing a total of 117 healthy, benign-disordered, or malignant-disordered skins. Remarkably, skin malignancy, using melanoma as a proof of concept, was detected with 100% accuracy already at early stages when the lesions were submillimeter-sized, far beyond the detection limit of most existing noninvasive diagnosis tools. Moreover, the malignancy development over time has also been monitored successfully, showing the potential to predict skin disorder progression. Capable of detecting skin alterations at the molecular level in a nonsurgical and time-saving manner, this analytical chemistry platform is promising to build personalized skin care
High-level expression of Trigonopsis variabilis D-amino acid oxidase in Escherichia coli using lactose as inducer
The use of lactose as inducer for the expression of Trigonopsis variabilis D-amino acid oxidase gene (daao) was investigated in Escherichia coli regulated by T7 or T5 promoter. The daao gene was prepared by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pET21b and pQE-30 to yield pET-DAAO and pQE-DAAO, respectively. The His(6)-tagged DAAO was expressed in E. coli and had a M-r value of approximately 39.3 kDa. In lactose-induced E. coli BL21 (DE3) (pET-DAAO), the expressed DAAO could comprise up to 15% of total soluble proteins and a productivity of 23.4 U ml(-1) was obtained
Interventions to prevent obesity in school-aged children 6-18 years: An update of a Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis including studies from 2015â2021
Background Childhood obesity remains a global public health priority due to the enormous burden it generates. Recent surveillance data suggests there has been a sharp increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cochrane review of childhood obesity prevention interventions (0â18 years) updated to 2015 is the most rigorous and comprehensive review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on this topic. A burgeoning number of high quality studies have been published since that are yet to be synthesised. Methods An update of the Cochrane systematic review was conducted to include RCT studies in school-aged children (6-18 years) published to 30 June 2021 that assessed effectiveness on child weight (PROSPERO registration: CRD42020218928). Available cost-effectiveness and adverse effect data were extracted. Intervention effects on body mass index (BMI) were synthesised in random effects meta-analyses by setting (school, after-school program, community, home), and meta-regression examined the association of study characteristics with intervention effect. Findings Meta-analysis of 140 of 195 included studies (183,063 participants) found a very small positive effect on body mass index for school-based studies (SMD â0·03, 95%CI â0·06,â0·01; trials = 93; participants = 131,443; moderate certainty evidence) but not after-school programs, community or home-based studies. Subgroup analysis by age (6â12 years; 13â18 years) found no differential effects in any setting. Meta-regression found no associations between study characteristics (including setting, income level) and intervention effect. Ten of 53 studies assessing adverse effects reported presence of an adverse event. Insufficient data was available to draw conclusions on cost-effectiveness. Interpretation This updated synthesis of obesity prevention interventions for children aged 6â18 years, found a small beneficial impact on child BMI for school-based obesity prevention interventions. A more comprehensive assessment of interventions is required to identify mechanisms of effective interventions to inform future obesity prevention public health policy, which may be particularly salient in for COVID-19 recovery planning. Funding This research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia (Application No APP1153479)
MacB ABC transporter is a dimer whose ATPase activity and macrolide-binding capacity are regulated by the membrane fusion protein MacA
Gram-negative bacteria utilize specialized machinery to translocate drugs and protein toxins across the inner and outer membranes, consisting of a tripartite complex composed of an inner membrane secondary or primary active transporter (IMP), a periplasmic membrane fusion protein, and an outer membrane channel. We have investigated the assembly and function of the MacAB/TolC system that confers resistance to macrolides in Escherichia coli. The membrane fusion protein MacA not only stabilizes the tripartite assembly by interacting with both the inner membrane protein MacB and the outer membrane protein TolC, but also has a role in regulating the function of MacB, apparently increasing its affinity for both erythromycin and ATP. Analysis of the kinetic behavior of ATP hydrolysis indicated that MacA promotes and stabilizes the ATP-binding form of the MacB transporter. For the first time, we have established unambiguously the dimeric nature of a noncanonic ABC transporter, MacB that has an N-terminal nucleotide binding domain, by means of nondissociating mass spectrometry, analytical ultracentrifugation, and atomic force microscopy. Structural studies of ABC transporters indicate that ATP is bound between a pair of nucleotide binding domains to stabilize a conformation in which the substrate-binding site is outward-facing. Consequently, our data suggest that in the presence of ATP the same conformation of MacB is promoted and stabilized by MacA. Thus, MacA would facilitate the delivery of drugs by MacB to TolC by enhancing the binding of drugs to it and inducing a conformation of MacB that is primed and competent for binding TolC. Our structural studies are an important first step in understanding how the tripartite complex is assembled
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