260 research outputs found
Classical solvability of the relativistic Vlasov-Maxwell system with bounded spatial density
In (Arch. Rational. Mech. Anal 1986, 92:59-90), Glassey and Strauss showed
that if the growth in the momentum of the particles is controlled, then the
relativistic Vlasov-Maxwell system has a classical solution globally in time.
Later they proved that such control is achieved if the kinetic energy density
of the particles remains bounded for all time (Math. Meth. Appl. Sci. 1987,
9:46-52). Here, we show that the latter assumption can be weakened to the
boundedness of the spatial density.Comment: AMS-LaTeX, 9 page
A look at the links between drainage density and flood statistics
Abstract. We investigate the links between the drainage density of a river basin and selected flood statistics, namely, mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and coefficient of skewness of annual maximum series of peak flows. The investigation is carried out through a three-stage analysis. First, a numerical simulation is performed by using a spatially distributed hydrological model in order to highlight how flood statistics change with varying drainage density. Second, a conceptual hydrological model is used in order to analytically derive the dependence of flood statistics on drainage density. Third, real world data from 44 watersheds located in northern Italy were analysed. The three-level analysis seems to suggest that a critical value of the drainage density exists for which a minimum is attained in both the coefficient of variation and the absolute value of the skewness coefficient. Such minima in the flood statistics correspond to a minimum of the flood quantile for a given exceedance probability (i.e., recurrence interval). Therefore, the results of this study may provide useful indications for flood risk assessment in ungauged basins
Uniqueness of the compactly supported weak solutions of the relativistic Vlasov-Darwin system
We use optimal transportation techniques to show uniqueness of the compactly
supported weak solutions of the relativistic Vlasov-Darwin system. Our proof
extends the method used by Loeper in J. Math. Pures Appl. 86, 68-79 (2006) to
obtain uniqueness results for the Vlasov-Poisson system.Comment: AMS-LaTeX, 21 page
Xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative stress causes activation ofNF-kappaB and inflammation in the liver of type I diabetic rats
Cytosolic Sequestration of Prep1 Influences Early Stages of T Cell Development
Objective: Prep1 and Pbx2 are the main homeodomain DNA-binding proteins of the TALE (three amino acid loop extension) family expressed in the thymus. We previously reported reduced Pbx2 expression and defective thymocyte maturation in Prep1 hypomorphic mice. To further investigate the role of this homeodomain DNA-binding protein in T cell development, we generated transgenic mice expressing the N-terminal fragment of Pbx1 (Pbx1NT) under the control of the Lck proximal promoter. Principal Findings: Pbx1NT causes Prep1 cytosolic sequestration, abolishes Prep1-dependent DNA-binding activity and results in reduced Pbx2 expression in developing thymocytes. Transgenic thymi reveal increased numbers of CD4 2 CD8 2 CD44 2 (DN3 and DN4) thymocytes, due to a higher frequency of DN2 and DN4 Pbx1NT thymocytes in the S phase. Transgenic thymocytes however do not accumulate at later stages, as revealed by a normal representation of CD4/CD8 double positive and single positive thymocytes, due to a higher rate of apoptotic cell death of DN4 Pbx1NT thymocytes. Conclusion: The results obtained by genetic (Prep1 hypomorphic) and functional (Pbx1NT transgenic) inactivation of Prep
Site-directed mutagenesis reveals a unique requirement for tyrosine residues in IL-7Rα and TSLPR cytoplasmic domains in TSLP-dependent cell proliferation
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an interleukin-7 (IL-7) like cytokine, which plays an important role in the regulation of immune responses to allergens. TSLP binds to a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of the IL-7 receptor α chain (IL-7Rα) and the TSLP receptor (TSLPR, also known as CRLF2). It has previously been suggested that the lone tyrosine residue in the mouse TSLPR cytoplasmic domain is required for cell proliferation using chimeric receptor systems. Also the role of tyrosine residues in the IL-7Rα cytoplasmic domain in TSLP signaling has not yet been investigated. We undertook a systematic analysis to test the role of tyrosine residues of both the IL-7Rα and the TSLPR in inducing cell proliferation in a growth factor dependent cell line, Ba/F3.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A multiple sequence alignment of the IL-7Rα and TSLPR cytoplasmic domains revealed conservation of most, but not all, cytoplasmic tyrosine residues across several species. Our site-directed mutagenesis experiments revealed that the single tyrosine residue in human TSLPR was not required for TSLP-dependent cell proliferation. It has previously been reported that Y449 of human IL-7Rα is required for IL-7 dependent proliferation. Interestingly, in contrast to IL-7 signaling, none of tyrosine residues in the human IL-7Rα cytoplasmic domain were required for TSLP-dependent cell proliferation in the presence of a wild type TSLPR. However, the mutation of all cytoplasmic four tyrosine residues of human IL-7Rα and human TSLPR to phenylalanine residues abolished the proliferative ability of the TSLP receptor complex in response to TSLP.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that TSLP requires at least one cytoplasmic tyrosine residue to transmit proliferative signals. Unlike other members of IL-2 cytokine family, tyrosine residues in IL-7Rα and TSLPR cytoplasmic domains play a redundant role in TSLP-mediated cell growth.</p
HIV infection of thymocytes inhibits IL-7 activity without altering CD127 expression
Abstract
Background
Thymic function is altered in HIV infection and characterized by dysregulation of the thymic epithelial network, reduced thymic output and ultimately an impaired naïve T-cell pool. The IL-7/IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) signalling pathway is critical for the maturation and differentiation of thymocytes. HIV infection is associated with a decrease in IL-7Rα (CD127) expression and impaired CD127 signalling in circulating CD8+ T-cells; however, little is known about the effect of HIV on CD127 expression and IL-7 activity in the thymus. Therefore, the effect of in vitro HIV infection on CD127 expression and IL-7-mediated function in thymocytes was investigated.
Findings
In vitro HIV infection of thymocytes did not affect CD127 expression on either total thymocytes or on single positive CD4 or single positive CD8 subsets. However, HIV infection resulted in a decrease in the level of IL-7-induced STAT-5 phosphorylation and Bcl-2 expression in unfractionated thymocytes.
Conclusion
These findings indicate that HIV infection alters IL-7 responsiveness of thymocytes by a mechanism other than CD127 downregulation and potentially explain the disruption in thymopoiesis observed in HIV infection
The Einstein-Vlasov System/Kinetic Theory
The main purpose of this article is to provide a guide to theorems on global
properties of solutions to the Einstein--Vlasov system. This system couples
Einstein's equations to a kinetic matter model. Kinetic theory has been an
important field of research during several decades in which the main focus has
been on non-relativistic and special relativistic physics, i.e., to model the
dynamics of neutral gases, plasmas, and Newtonian self-gravitating systems. In
1990, Rendall and Rein initiated a mathematical study of the Einstein--Vlasov
system. Since then many theorems on global properties of solutions to this
system have been established.Comment: Published version http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2011-
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