29 research outputs found
Isometric Embedding of BPS Branes in Flat Spaces with Two Times
We show how non-near horizon p-brane theories can be obtained from two
embedding constraints in a flat higher dimensional space with 2 time
directions. In particular this includes the construction of D3 branes from a
flat 12-dimensional action, and M2 and M5 branes from 13 dimensions. The
worldvolume actions are determined by constant forms in the higher dimension,
reduced to the usual expressions by Lagrange multipliers. The formulation
affords insight in the global aspects of the spacetime geometries and makes
contact with recent work on two-time physics.Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures, Latex using epsf.sty and here.sty; v2:
reference added and some small correction
Blockade of hemichannels normalizes the differentiation fate of myoblasts and features of skeletal muscles from dysferlin-deficient mice
Indexación: Scopus.Dysferlinopathies are muscle dystrophies caused by mutations in the gene encoding dysferlin, a relevant protein for membrane repair and trafficking. These diseases are untreatable, possibly due to the poor knowledge of relevant molecular targets. Previously, we have shown that human myofibers from patient biopsies as well as myotubes derived from immortalized human myoblasts carrying a mutated form of dysferlin express connexin proteins, but their relevance in myoblasts fate and function remained unknown. In the present work, we found that numerous myoblasts bearing a mutated dysferlin when induced to acquire myogenic commitment express PPARγ, revealing adipogenic instead of myogenic commitment. These cell cultures presented many mononucleated cells with fat accumulation and within 48 h of differentiation formed fewer multinucleated cells. In contrast, dysferlin deficient myoblasts treated with boldine, a connexin hemichannels blocker, neither expressed PPARγ, nor accumulated fat and formed similar amount of multinucleated cells as wild type precursor cells. We recently demonstrated that myofibers of skeletal muscles from blAJ mice (an animal model of dysferlinopathies) express three connexins (Cx39, Cx43, and Cx45) that form functional hemichannels (HCs) in the sarcolemma. In symptomatic blAJ mice, we now show that eight-week treatment with a daily dose of boldine showed a progressive recovery of motor activity reaching normality. At the end of this treatment, skeletal muscles were comparable to those of wild type mice and presented normal CK activity in serum. Myofibers of boldine-treated blAJ mice also showed strong dysferlin-like immunoreactivity. These findings reveal that muscle dysfunction results from a pathophysiologic mechanism triggered by mutated dysferlin and downstream connexin hemichannels expressed de novo lead to a drastic reduction of myogenesis and favor muscle damage. Thus, boldine could represent a therapeutic opportunity to treat dysfernilopathies. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/17/602
Non-extremal Localised Branes and Vacuum Solutions in M-Theory
Non-extremal overlapping p-brane supergravity solutions localised in their
relative transverse coordinates are constructed. The construction uses an
algebraic method of solving the bosonic equations of motion. It is shown that
these non-extremal solutions can be obtained from the extremal solutions by
means of the superposition of two deformation functions defined by vacuum
solutions of M-theory. Vacuum solutions of M-theory including irrational powers
of harmonic functions are discussed.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pages, no figures, typos correcte
Sigma-model for Generalized Composite p-branes
A multidimensional gravitational model containing several dilatonic scalar
fields and antisymmetric forms is considered. The manifold is chosen in the
form M = M_0 x M_1 x ... x M_n, where M_i are Einstein spaces (i > 0). The
block-diagonal metric is chosen and all fields and scale factors of the metric
are functions on M_0. For the forms composite (electro-magnetic) p-brane ansatz
is adopted. The model is reduced to gravitating self-interacting sigma-model
with certain constraints. In pure electric and magnetic cases the number of
these constraints is m(m - 1)/2 where m is number of 1-dimensional manifolds
among M_i. In the "electro-magnetic" case for dim M_0 = 1, 3 additional m
constraints appear. A family of "Majumdar-Papapetrou type" solutions governed
by a set of harmonic functions is obtained, when all factor-spaces M_k are
Ricci-flat. These solutions are generalized to the case of non-Ricci-flat M_0
when also some additional "internal" Einstein spaces of non-zero curvature are
added to M. As an example exact solutions for D = 11 supergravity and related
12-dimensional theory are presented.Comment: 33 pages, Latex. Some corrections and rearrangements are mad