4,512 research outputs found
Formation of Dark Matter Haloes in a Homogeneous Dark Energy Universe
Several independent cosmological tests have shown evidences that the energy
density of the Universe is dominated by a dark energy component, which cause
the present accelerated expansion. The large scale structure formation can be
used to probe dark energy models, and the mass function of dark matter haloes
is one of the best statistical tools to perform this study. We present here a
statistical analysis of mass functions of galaxies under a homogeneous dark
energy model, proposed in the work of Percival (2005), using an observational
flux-limited X-ray cluster survey, and CMB data from WMAP. We compare, in our
analysis, the standard Press-Schechter (PS) approach (where a Gaussian
distribution is used to describe the primordial density fluctuation field of
the mass function), and the PL (Power Law) mass function (where we apply a
nonextensive q-statistical distribution to the primordial density field). We
conclude that the PS mass function cannot explain at the same time the X-ray
and the CMB data (even at 99% confidence level), and the PS best fit dark
energy equation of state parameter is , which is distant from the
cosmological constant case. The PL mass function provides better fits to the
HIFLUGCS X-ray galaxy data and the CMB data; we also note that the
parameter is very sensible to modifications in the PL free parameter, ,
suggesting that the PL mass function could be a powerful tool to constrain dark
energy models.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Latex. Accepted for publication in the
International Journal of Modern Physics D (IJMPD)
In-Vivo Nucleus Pulposus-Specific Regulation of Adult Murine Intervertebral Disc Degeneration via Wnt/Beta-Catenin Signaling
B-Catenin, transcription factor of Wnt signaling, is promoted in patients with intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration, but Wnt signaling decreases with aging. We hypothesize that IVD degeneration is associated with decreased Wnt signaling despite more b-Catenin. Chronic compression of tail IVDs of young-adult and aged Wnt-reporter (TOPGAL) animals initiated an age-related cascade of degenerative-like changes, which included reduced Wnt ligand expression and Wnt signaling in nucleus pulposus cells, despite elevation of b-Catenin protein and gene expression. To determine the effect of upregulated and downregulated Wnt signaling in adult discs, b-Catenin in the nucleus pulposus was stabilized (Shh-CreErT2/b-Cateninfl(Ex3)/fl(Ex3), cACT) or knocked out (Shh-CreErT2/b-Cateninfl/fl, cKO). cACT discs had promoted expression of Wnt-targets and -ligands, brachyury, extracellular matrix production and 34% greater compressive stiffness than WT (b-Cateninfl(Ex3)/fl(Ex3)) discs, but 50% less tensile stiffness. By contrast, knockout reversed the cACT phenotype: less protein expression of b-catenin in the nucleus pulposus, less expression of brachyury, heightened expression of extracellular matrix breakdown and 46% less compressive stiffness than wild-type (b-Cateninfl/fl,WT) discs. These data suggest that intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with loss of Wnt signaling and that the concomitant increase in b-catenin is a regenerative response, potentially offering a therapeutic approach to degeneration
Stimulation of Piezo1 by mechanical signals promotes bone anabolism
Mechanical loading, such as caused by exercise, stimulates bone formation by osteoblasts and increases bone strength, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Osteocytes reside in bone matrix, sense changes in mechanical load, and produce signals that alter bone formation by osteoblasts. We report that the ion channel Piezo1 is required for changes in gene expression induced by fluid shear stress in cultured osteocytes and stimulation of Piezo1 by a small molecule agonist is sufficient to replicate the effects of fluid flow on osteocytes. Conditional deletion o
Post-traumatic osteoarthritis in mice following mechanical injury to the synovial joint
We investigated the spectrum of lesions characteristic of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) across the knee joint in response to mechanical injury. We hypothesized that alteration in knee joint stability in mice reproduces molecular and structural features of PTOA that would suggest potential therapeutic targets in humans. The right knees of eight-week old male mice from two recombinant inbred lines (LGXSM-6 and LGXSM-33) were subjected to axial tibial compression. Three separate loading magnitudes were applied: 6N, 9N, and 12N. Left knees served as non-loaded controls. Mice were sacrificed at 5, 9, 14, 28, and 56 days post-loading and whole knee joint changes were assessed by histology, immunostaining, micro-CT, and magnetic resonance imaging. We observed that tibial compression disrupted joint stability by rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (except for 6N) and instigated a cascade of temporal and topographical features of PTOA. These features included cartilage extracellular matrix loss without proteoglycan replacement, chondrocyte apoptosis at day 5, synovitis present at day 14, osteophytes, ectopic calcification, and meniscus pathology. These findings provide a plausible model and a whole-joint approach for how joint injury in humans leads to PTOA. Chondrocyte apoptosis, synovitis, and ectopic calcification appear to be targets for potential therapeutic intervention
Inducible expression of Wnt7b promotes bone formation in aged mice and enhances fracture healing
Act now: The effects of the 2008 Spanish disability reform
The 2008 reform of the Spanish disability system reduced the benefits for individuals who have a short contributory history relative to their age. It also unintentionally introduced an incentive for individuals to apply for disability in the present. We use a lifecycle model and an empirical analysis to understand the overall impact of the reform. Our baseline estimates suggest that men and women who were affected by the reform were 46% and 22% more likely to be on permanent partial disability following the reform, respectively, and 55% and 46% more likely to be on total disability, respectively
Spin transfer switching of spin valve nanopillars using nanosecond pulsed currents
Spin valve nanopillars are reversed via the mechanism of spin momentum
transfer using current pulses applied perpendicular to the film plane of the
device. The applied pulses were varied in amplitude from 1.8 mA to 7.8 mA, and
varied in duration within the range of 100 ps to 200 ns. The probability of
device reversal is measured as a function of the pulse duration for each pulse
amplitude. The reciprocal pulse duration required for 95% reversal probability
is linearly related to the pulse current amplitude for currents exceeding 1.9
mA. For this device, 1.9 mA marks the crossover between dynamic reversal at
larger currents and reversal by thermal activation for smaller currents
A model-independent Dalitz plot analysis of B±→DK± with D→K0Sh+h− (h=π,K) decays and constraints on the CKM angle γ
A binned Dalitz plot analysis of B ±→DK ± decays, with D→KS0π+π- and D→KS0K+K-, is performed to measure the CP-violating observables x ± and y ± which are sensitive to the CKM angle γ. The analysis exploits 1.0 fb -1 of data collected by the LHCb experiment. The study makes no model-based assumption on the variation of the strong phase of the D decay amplitude over the Dalitz plot, but uses measurements of this quantity from CLEO-c as input. The values of the parameters are found to be x -=(0.0±4.3±1.5±0.6)×10 -2, y -=(2.7±5.2±0.8±2.3)×10 -2, x +=(-10.3±4.5±1.8±1.4)×10 -2 and y +=(-0.9±3.7±0.8±3.0)×10 -2. The first, second, and third uncertainties are the statistical, the experimental systematic, and the error associated with the precision of the strong-phase parameters measured at CLEO-c, respectively. These results correspond to γ=(44-38+43)°, with a second solution at γ→γ+180°, and r B=0.07±0.04, where r B is the ratio between the suppressed and favoured B decay amplitudes
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