2,897 research outputs found
Taxonomy of particles in Ising spin chains
The statistical mechanics of particles with shapes on a one-dimensional
lattice is investigated in the context of the Ising chain with uniform
nearest-neighbor coupling, quadratic single-site potential, and magnetic field,
which supports four distinct ground states:
, ,
, . The complete
spectrum is generated from each ground state by particles from a different set
of six or seven species. Particles and elements of pseudo-vacuum are
characterized by motifs (patterns of several consecutive site variables).
Particles are floating objects that can be placed into open slots on the
lattice. Open slots are recognized as permissible links between motifs. The
energy of a particle varies between species but is independent of where it is
placed. Placement of one particle changes the open-slot configuration for
particles of all species. This statistical interaction is encoded in a
generalized Pauli principle, from which the multiplicity of states for a given
particle combination is determined and used for the exact statistical
mechanical analysis. Particles from all species belong to one of four
categories: compacts, hosts, tags, or hybrids. Compacts and hosts find open
slots in segments of pseudo-vacuum. Tags find open slots inside hosts. Hybrids
are tags with hosting capability. In the taxonomy of particles proposed here,
`species' is indicative of structure and `category' indicative of function. The
hosting function splits the Pauli principle into exclusion and accommodation
parts. Near phase boundaries, the state of the Ising chain at low temperature
is akin to that of miscible or immiscible liquids with particles from one
species acting as surfactant molecules.Comment: 12 pages, 6 tables, 6 figure
Detection of TMPRSS2 : ERG fusion gene in circulating prostate cancer cells
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 license (CC BY-NC SA)Aim: To investigate the existence of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene in circulating tumor cells (CTC) from prostate cancer patients and its potential in monitoring tumor metastasis. Methods: We analyzed the frequency of TMPRSS2: ERG and TMPRSS2:ETV1 transcripts in 27 prostate cancer biopsies from prostatectomies, and TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts in CTC isolated from 15 patients with advanced androgen independent disease using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to analyze the genomic truncation of ERG, which is the result of TMPRSS2:ERG fusion in 10 of the 15 CTC samples. Results: TMPRSS2: ERG transcripts were found in 44% of our samples, but we did not detect expression of TMPRSS2:ETV1. Using FISH analysis we detected chromosomal rearrangements affecting the ERG gene in 6 of 10 CTC samples, including 1 case with associated TMPRSS2:ERG fusion at the primary site. However, TMPRSS2:ERG transcripts were not detected in any of the 15 CTC samples, including the 10 cases analyzed by FISH. Conclusion: Although further study is required to address the association between TMPRSS2:ERG fusion and prostate cancer metastasis, detection of genomic truncation of the ERG gene by FISH analysis could be useful for monitoring the appearance of CTC and the potential for prostate cancer metastasis.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Comparative genomic analysis of the Tribolium immune system
The annotation, and comparison with homologous genes in other species, of immunity-related genes in the Tribolium castaneum genome allowed the identification of around 300 candidate defense proteins, and revealed a framework of information on Tribolium immunity
Four Months of a School-Based Exercise Program Improved Aerobic Fitness and Clinical Outcomes in a Low-SES Population of Normal Weight and Overweight/Obese Children With Asthma
Introduction: Fitness can improve asthma management. However, children from disadvantaged and minority communities generally engage less in physical activity, and have increased obesity and asthma disease burden. The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate (1) the feasibility of an exercise intervention program in a school-based setting (attendance and fitness improvement) and (2) the effect of the intervention on fitness, asthma, and clinical outcomes in normal weight and overweight/obese children with asthma from low-SES population.Materials and Methods: Nineteen children, ages 6–13 years, from two elementary schools in Santa Ana, CA, a population with high percentage of Hispanic and low socioeconomic status, participated. Training sessions occurred at the schools during afterschool hours (3 sessions weekly × 4 months) and included mainly aerobic age-appropriate activities/games and a small component of muscle strength. Before and after the intervention, evaluations included pulmonary function testing, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (peak V˙O2), assessments of habitual physical activity, body composition (DXA), asthma questionnaires, and blood (cardiometabolic risk factors).Results: Seventeen of 19 participants completed the study. Adherence to the program was 85%. Based on BMI %ile, 11 of the participants were overweight/obese and 8 were normal weight. Ten participants had persistent asthma and 9 children had intermittent asthma. Training was effective as peak V˙O2 improved significantly (8.1%, SD ± 10.1). There was no significant change in BMI %ile but a significant improvement in lean body mass (1%, SD ± 2.0) and decrease in body fat (1.9%, SD ± 4.6). Asthma quality of life outcomes improved following the intervention in symptoms, emotional function, and overall. There was no change in asthma control or pulmonary function. Five of 10 participants with persistent asthma decreased their maintenance medications. Lipid levels did not change except HDL levels increased (46.1 ± 8.4 mg/dL to 49.5 ± 10.4 mg/dL, p = 0.04).Discussion: A school-based exercise intervention program designed specifically for children with asthma for a predominantly economically disadvantaged and minority population was feasible with good adherence to the program and substantial engagement from the schools, families and participants. The exercise intervention was effective with improvement in aerobic fitness, body composition, asthma quality of life, and lipid outcomes, setting the stage for a larger multicenter trial designed to study exercise as an adjunct medicine in children with asthma
The Structure of IR Luminous Galaxies at 100 Microns
We have observed twenty two galaxies at 100 microns with the Kuiper Airborne
Observatory in order to determine the size of their FIR emitting regions. Most
of these galaxies are luminous far-infrared sources, with L_FIR > 10^11 L_sun.
This data constitutes the highest spatial resolution ever achieved on luminous
galaxies in the far infrared. Our data includes direct measurements of the
spatial structure of the sources, in which we look for departures from point
source profiles. Additionally, comparison of our small beam 100 micron fluxes
with the large beam IRAS fluxes shows how much flux falls beyond our detectors
but within the IRAS beam. Several sources with point- like cores show evidence
for such a net flux deficit. We clearly resolved six of these galaxies at 100
microns and have some evidence for extension in seven others. Those galaxies
which we have resolved can have little of their 100 micron flux directly
emitted by a point-like active galactic nucleus (AGN). Dust heated to ~40 K by
recent bursts of non-nuclear star formation provides the best explanation for
their extreme FIR luminosity. In a few cases, heating of an extended region by
a compact central source is also a plausible option. Assuming the FIR emission
we see is from dust, we also use the sizes we derive to find the dust
temperatures and optical depths at 100 microns which we translate into an
effective visual extinction through the galaxy. Our work shows that studies of
the far infrared structure of luminous infrared galaxies is clearly within the
capabilities of new generation far infrared instrumentation, such as SOFIA and
SIRTF.Comment: 8 tables, 23 figure
Recalling, Sharing and Participating in a Social Media Intervention Promoting HIV Testing: A Longitudinal Analysis of HIV Testing Among MSM in China.
Social media interventions may enhance HIV services among key populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM). This longitudinal analysis examined the effect of recalling, sharing, and participating in different components of a social media intervention on HIV testing among MSM. The social media intervention included six images/texts and information about an online local community contest to promote testing. Of the 1033 men, they recalled a mean of 2.7 out of six images and shared an average of one image online. 34.5% of men recalled information on the online local community contest and engaged in a mean of 1.3 contest. Recalling images/texts (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.25) and recalling a local contest (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.13-1.24) were associated with facility-based HIV testing. This study has implications for the development and evaluation of social media interventions to promote HIV testing
ASPP1 and ASPP2 bind active RAS, potentiate RAS signalling and enhance p53 activity in cancer cells.
RAS mutations occur frequently in human cancer and activated RAS signalling contributes to tumour development and progression. Apart from its oncogenic effects on cell growth, active RAS has tumour-suppressive functions via its ability to induce cellular senescence and apoptosis. RAS is known to induce p53-dependent cell cycle arrest, yet its effect on p53-dependent apoptosis remains unclear. We report here that apoptosis-stimulating protein of p53 (ASPP) 1 and 2, two activators of p53, preferentially bind active RAS via their N-terminal RAS-association domains (RAD). Additionally, ASPP2 colocalises with and contributes to RAS cellular membrane localisation and potentiates RAS signalling. In cancer cells, ASPP1 and ASPP2 cooperate with oncogenic RAS to enhance the transcription and apoptotic function of p53. Thus, loss of ASPP1 and ASPP2 in human cancer cells may contribute to the full transforming property of RAS oncogene
Jammed disks in narrow channel: criticality and ordering tendencies
A system of identical disks is confined to a narrow channel, closed off at
one end by a stopper and at the other end by a piston. All surfaces are hard
and frictionless. A uniform gravitational field is directed parallel to the
plane of the disks and perpendicular to the axis of the channel. We employ a
method of configurational statistics that interprets jammed states as
configurations of floating particles with structure. The particles interlink
according to set rules. The two jammed microstates with smallest volume act as
pseudo-vacuum. The placement of particles is subject to a generalized Pauli
principle. Jammed macrostates are generated by random agitations and specified
by two control variables. One is a measure of the intensity of random
agitations at given pressure. The other is a measure of the change in
gravitational potential energy in units of compression work when one particle
is excited. In this two-dimensional space of variables there exists a critical
point. The jammed macrostate realized at the critical point depends on the path
of approach. We describe all jammed macrostates by volume and entropy. Both are
functions of the average population densities of particles. Approaching the
critical point in an extended space of control variables generates two types of
jammed macrostates: states with random heterogeneities in mass density and
states with domains of uniform mass density.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, new revised version due to publicatio
Genetics of the Hippocampal Transcriptome in Mouse: A Systematic Survey and Online Neurogenomics Resource
Differences in gene expression in the CNS influence behavior and disease susceptibility. To systematically explore the role of normal variation in expression on hippocampal structure and function, we generated an online microarray database for a diverse panel of strains of mice, including most common inbred strains and numerous recombinant inbred lines (www.genenetwork.org). Using this resource, coexpression networks for families of genes can be generated rapidly to test causal models related to function. The data set is optimized for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and was used to identify over 5500 QTLs that modulate mRNA levels. We describe a wide variety of analyses and novel synthetic approaches that take advantage of this resource, and demonstrate how both the data and associated tools can be applied to the study of gene regulation in the hippocampus and relations to structure and function
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