On Stable Constant Mean Curvature Spheres of Hn×R\mathbb H^n\times\mathbb R and Sn×R\mathbb S^n\times\mathbb R and their Uniqueness as Isoperimetric Hypersurfaces

We consider the rotational constant mean curvature spheres of $\mathbb H^n\times\mathbb R$ obtained by Hsiang and Hsiang and show that they are nested. We apply this property to prove the uniqueness of these spheres as isoperimetric hypersurfaces of $\mathbb H^n\times\mathbb R,$ filling in a gap in the original proof given by Hsiang and Hsiang. We also give a direct proof of their stability, extending the result by Souam, who considered the case $n=2.$ Analogous results are obtained for the class of the rotational constant large mean curvature spheres of $\mathbb S^n\times\mathbb R$ constructed by Pedrosa.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Controversy over the pharmacological treatments of storage symptoms in spinal cord injury patients: a literature overview

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Water wave transmission and energy dissipation by a floating plate in the presence of overwash

A numerical model, based on the two-phase incompressible Navier–Stokes equations, is used to study transmission of regular water waves by a thin floating plate in two dimensions. The model is shown to capture the phenomenon of waves overwashing the plate, and the generation of turbulent bores on the upper plate surface. It is validated against laboratory experimental measurements, in terms of the transmitted wave field and overwash depths, for a set of incident wave periods and steepness values. Corresponding simulations are performed for a thick plate that does not experience overwash, which are validated using experiments where an edge barrier prevents thin-plate overwash. The model accurately reproduces (i) the linear relationship between the transmitted and incident amplitudes for the thick plate, and (ii) the decrease in proportion of incident-wave transmission for the thin plate, as incident steepness increases. Model outputs are used to link the decreasing transmission to wave-energy dissipation in the overwash, particularly where bores collide, and in the surrounding water, particularly at the plate ends. It is shown that most energy dissipation occurs in the overwash for the shortest incident waves tested, and in the surrounding water for the longer incident waves. Further, evidence is given that overwash suppresses plate motions, and causes asymmetry in plate rotations.Filippo Nelli, Luke G. Bennetts, David M. Skene and Alessandro Toffol

Using the critical incident technique for qualitative process evaluation of interventions : The example of the “Let's Move It” trial

Rationale Trials evaluating interventions to promote health behavior change rarely embed investigations that assess participant perceptions of crucial triggers of change. Objective The "Let's Move It” (LMI) randomized trial evaluated a theorybased whole school system intervention aiming to increase physical activity (PA) of adolescents attending vocational schools. This article serves two main purposes: to describe how to use the critical incident technique (CIT) to conduct in qualitative process evaluation to identify events, including intervention elements, which LMI trial participants perceived to enable or support behavior change. Method Semi-structured interviews (n = 34) conducted immediately post intervention from intervention and control arms were analyzed using the CIT. Results The analysis identified altogether 39 critical incidents. Most of the critical incidents were related to the LMI in the intervention arm and the findings are partly aligned with the LMI intervention theory. Analysis revealed several critical incidents also in the control arm, including gaining insights regarding PA and mere measurement effects, illustrating challenges facing real-world trials. Conclusion The CIT seems a promising approach for directing analysis towards potentially crucial intervention elements as described by the participants themselves, helping in focusing and limiting the text corpus to accounts relevant to change. Qualitative evaluations in trials may add valuable understanding to complement quantitative assessments.Peer reviewe

Increased production of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor in primary IgA nephropathy

Increased production of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor in primary IgA nephropathy. The production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in 13 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and 9 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis was investigated. Moreover, the distribution of IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression was studied in the purified T cell population versus the non-T cell population of IgAN patients. The results show a spontaneous significant production of IL-2 in cultures of PBMC from patients with IgAN (P < 0.025) that increased after PHA stimulation. IgAN patients also had a significantly higher expression of IL-2R on the surface of PBMC than did patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (P < 0.05). IL-2R was usually detected on unstimulated purified T cells that expressed the activation DR antigen. Moreover, a high number of DR helper T cells was associated to a reduced number of suppressor T cells (OKT8+M1+). These findings suggest that the increased production of IL-2 in patients with IgAN may be responsible for the increased activity of helper T cells. The high number of IL-2R expressed by freshly separated PBMC implies an in vivo continuous stimulation of these cells, and this finding is in agreement with the demonstrated spontaneous hyperproduction of IL-2. Moreover, the low number of suppressor T cells may contribute to the overactivity of helper T cells bearing IL-2R in IgAN patients

A Lentiviral Vector-Based, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) Glycoprotein B Vaccine Affords Cross-Protection against HSV-1 and HSV-2 Genital Infections

Genital herpes is caused by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2, and its incidence is constantly increasing in the human population. Regardless of the clinical manifestation, HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections are highly transmissible to sexual partners and enhance susceptibility to other sexually transmitted infections. An effective vaccine is not yet available. Here, HSV-1 glycoprotein B (gB1) was delivered by a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vector and tested against HSV-1 and HSV-2 vaginal challenges in C57BL/6 mice. The gB1 vaccine elicited cross-neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated responses that protected 100 and 75% animals from HSV-1- and HSV-2-associated severe disease, respectively. Two of the eight fully protected vaccinees underwent subclinical HSV-2 infection, as demonstrated by deep immunosuppression and other analyses. Finally, vaccination prevented death in 83% of the animals challenged with a HSV-2 dose that killed 78 and 100% naive and mock-vaccinated controls, respectively. Since this FLY vector can accommodate two or more HSV immunogens, this vaccine has ample potential for improvement and may become a candidate for the development of a truly effective vaccine against genital herpes