Cosmological Constraint and Analysis on Holographic Dark Energy Model Characterized by the Conformal-age-like Length

We present a best-fit analysis on the single-parameter holographic dark energy model characterized by the conformal-age-like length, $L=\frac{1}{a^4(t)}\int_0^tdt' a^3(t')$. Based on the Union2 compilation of 557 supernova Ia data, the baryon acoustic oscillation results from the SDSS DR7 and the cosmic microwave background radiation data from the WMAP7, we show that the model gives the minimal $\chi^2_{min}=546.273$, which is comparable to $\chi^2_{\Lambda{\rm CDM}}=544.616$ for the $\Lambda$CDM model. The single parameter $d$ concerned in the model is found to be $d=0.232\pm 0.006\pm 0.009$. Since the fractional density of dark energy $\Omega_{de}\sim d^2a^2$ at $a \ll 1$, the fraction of dark energy is naturally negligible in the early universe, $\Omega_{de} \ll 1$ at $a \ll 1$. The resulting constraints on the present fractional energy density of matter and the equation of state are \Omega_{m0}=0.286^{+0.019}_{-0.018}^{+0.032}_{-0.028} and w_{de0}=-1.240^{+0.027}_{-0.027}^{+0.045}_{-0.044} respectively. The model leads to a slightly larger fraction of matter comparing to the $\Lambda$CDM model. We also provide a systematic analysis on the cosmic evolutions of the fractional energy density of dark energy, the equation of state of dark energy, the deceleration parameter and the statefinder. It is noticed that the equation of state crosses from $w_{de}>-1$ to $w_{de}<-1$, the universe transits from decelerated expansion ($q>0$) to accelerated expansion ($q<0$) recently, and the statefinder may serve as a sensitive diagnostic to distinguish the CHDE model with the $\Lambda$CDM model.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, minor changes for the fitting data, references adde

Runx1 deficiency permits granulocyte lineage commitment but impairs subsequent maturation

First-hits in the multi-hit process of leukemogenesis originate in germline or hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), yet leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) usually have a lineage-committed phenotype. The molecular mechanisms underlying this compartment shift during leukemia evolution have not been a major focus of investigation and remain poorly understood. Here a mechanism underlying this shift was examined in the context of Runx1 deficiency, a frequent leukemia-initiating event. Lineage-negative cells isolated from the bone marrow of Runx1-haploinsufficient and wild-type control mice were cultured in granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor to force lineage commitment. Runx1-haploinsufficient cells demonstrated significantly greater and persistent exponential cell growth than wild-type controls. Not surprisingly, the Runx1-haploinsufficient cells were differentiation-impaired, by morphology and by flow-cytometric evaluation for granulocyte differentiation markers. Interestingly, however, this impaired differentiation was not because of decreased granulocyte lineage commitment, as RNA and protein upregulation of the master granulocyte lineage-commitment transcription factor Cebpa, and Hoxb4 repression, was similar in wild-type and Runx1-haploinsufficient cells. Instead, RNA and protein expression of Cebpe, a key driver of progressive maturation after lineage commitment, were significantly decreased in Runx1-haploinsufficient cells. Primary acute myeloid leukemia cells with normal cytogenetics and RUNX1 mutation also demonstrated this phenotype of very high CEBPA mRNA expression but paradoxically low expression of CEBPE, a CEBPA target gene. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analyses suggested a molecular mechanism for this phenotype: in wild-type cells, Runx1 binding was substantially greater at the Cebpe than at the Cebpa enhancer. Furthermore, Runx1 deficiency substantially diminished high-level Runx1 binding at the Cebpe enhancer, but lower-level binding at the Cebpa enhancer was relatively preserved. Thus, Runx1-deficiency permits Cebpa upregulation and the exponential cell growth that accompanies lineage commitment, but by impairing activation of Cebpe, a key proliferation-terminating maturation gene, extends this exponential growth. These mechanisms facilitate germline cell or HSC of origin, yet evolution into LIC with lineage-committed phenotype.Fil: Ng, K. P.. Cleveland Clinic. Translational Hematology and Oncology Research; Estados UnidosFil: Hu, Z.. Cleveland Clinic. Translational Hematology and Oncology Research; Estados UnidosFil: Ebrahem, Q.. Cleveland Clinic. Translational Hematology and Oncology Research; Estados UnidosFil: Negrotto, Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; Argentina. Cleveland Clinic. Translational Hematology and Oncology Research; Estados UnidosFil: Lausen, J.. Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Biomedical Research; AlemaniaFil: Saunthararajah, Y.. Cleveland Clinic; Estados Unido

Associations between openness facets, prejudice, and tolerance: a scoping review with meta-analysis

The personality factor of openness to experience, which encompasses curiosity, imagination, and a desire for new experiences, has been associated negatively with prejudice and positively with the closely related value of tolerance. While these relationships have been reviewed at the factor level, there has been no review of research at the lower facet level. This review aims to uncover the relationships between the facets of openness and the constructs of prejudice and tolerance. We conducted a preregistered scoping review with meta-analysis following the recommended guidelines from Joanna Briggs Institute. A total of 2,349 articles were reviewed, with 16 primary research articles (or 17 studies) meeting the criteria for inclusion. Aggregated effect sizes via random-effect meta-analysis revealed that all revised neuroticism-extraversion-openness personality inventory (NEO-PI-R) and international personality item pool (IPIP)-based facets of openness significantly predicted prejudice and tolerance. Out of the three measures [i.e., NEO-PI-R, IPIP-NEO, and honesty-humility, emotionality, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experience personality inventory (HEXACO-PI), and the facets of openness examined], the NEO-PI-R facet of value was most strongly associated with prejudice. In contrast, the NEO-PI-R facet of aesthetics was the facet most strongly associated with tolerance. However, these results should be treated as preliminary in light of the small number of meta-analyzed studies and more primary research studies are needed to confirm the trends found in this review. This review represents the first step in the systematic investigation of the link between the facets of openness and components of prejudice and tolerance and contributes toward explaining prejudice and tolerance

Examining the Effectiveness of a Nutrition Education Intervention for Hispanic Participants

Background: The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) Food Talk nutrition education curriculum in the state of Georgia was specifically tailored towards Hispanic EFNEP participants in order to test the effectiveness of the intervention in the Hispanic population. Methods: 455 Hispanic EFNEP individuals ages 18-61 in the state of Georgia participated in the data collection. Measures collected include a 24 hour diet recall, and a food behavior checklist to compare consumption and food behavior practices both before and after nutrition education intervention. Results: Measurable objectives of the study include statistically significant (p\u3c.001) in fruit, vegetable and milk consumption and consumption of fruits, vegetables and milk group foods closer to the recommended levels of USDA MyPlate guidelines for the nutrition education intervention group. Results also showed statistically significant (p\u3c.0001) improvements in nutrition-related behaviors. Conclusion: This study supports a nutrition intervention developed to improve dietary behaviors for EFNEP participants will be effective in the Hispanic population of Georgia with modifications to the nutrition education curriculum

Cycling performance of Mn2O3 porous nanocubes and hollow spheres for lithium-ion batteries

Post presentationMn2O3 is a promising anode material for lithium ion battery. Two different kinds of structures of Mn2O3 were synthesized via solution processes, the Mn2O3 porous cubes and hollow spheres. Scanning electron microscope images and transmission electron microscopy images clearly show the structures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements were used to characterize their electrochemical properties. As anode materials for lithium ion batteries, Mn2O3 porous cubes performed similarly as Mn2O3 hollow spheres. Both samples started with high initial capacities (1583.2 mAh/g and 1550.7 mAh/g) which were reduced to 173.3 mAh/g and 162.0 mAh/g at 100th cycle at a current density of 100 mA/g. The decrease is likely due to morphology destruction the materials in charging and discharging process.published_or_final_versio

Stochastic assembly in a subtropical forest chronosequence: evidence from contrasting changes of species, phylogenetic and functional dissimilarity over succession

This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this recordDeterministic and stochastic processes jointly determine the community dynamics of forest succession. However, it has been widely held in previous studies that deterministic processes dominate forest succession. Furthermore, inference of mechanisms for community assembly may be misleading if based on a single axis of diversity alone. In this study, we evaluated the relative roles of deterministic and stochastic processes along a disturbance gradient by integrating species, functional, and phylogenetic beta diversity in a subtropical forest chronosequence in Southeastern China. We found a general pattern of increasing species turnover, but little-to-no change in phylogenetic and functional turnover over succession at two spatial scales. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic and functional beta diversity were not significantly different from random expectation. This result suggested a dominance of stochastic assembly, contrary to the general expectation that deterministic processes dominate forest succession. On the other hand, we found significant interactions of environment and disturbance and limited evidence for significant deviations of phylogenetic or functional turnover from random expectations for different size classes. This result provided weak evidence of deterministic processes over succession. Stochastic assembly of forest succession suggests that post-disturbance restoration may be largely unpredictable and difficult to control in subtropical forests.This study was supported financially by National Key Research and Development Project of China (2016YFC0500202) the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31170401), and the Earthwatch Institute program “Quantify and monitor carbon pools and fluxes to assess the impact of climate change on subtropical forests under different anthropogenic disturbances”. NGS was supported by two NSF USA-China Dimensions of Biodiversity Grants (DEB - 1046113; DEB - 1241136)