Multidimensional Dynamical Systems Accepting the Normal Shift

The dynamical systems of the form \ddot\bold r=\bold F (\bold r,\dot\bold r) in $\Bbb R^n$ accepting the normal shift are considered. The concept of weak normality for them is introduced. The partial differential equations for the force field \bold F(\bold r,\dot\bold r) of the dynamical systems with weak and complete normality are derived.Comment: AMS-TeX, ver. 2.1, IBM AT-386, size 16K (ASCII), short versio

Hyper-complex four-manifolds from the Tzitz\'eica equation

It is shown how solutions to the Tzitz\'eica equation can be used to construct a family of (pseudo) hyper-complex metrics in four dimensions.Comment: To be published in J.Math.Phy

MicroRNA-155 is induced during the macrophage inflammatory response

The mammalian inflammatory response to infection involves the induction of several hundred genes, a process that must be carefully regulated to achieve pathogen clearance and prevent the consequences of unregulated expression, such as cancer. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as a class of gene expression regulators that has also been linked to cancer. However, the relationship between inflammation, innate immunity, and miRNA expression is just beginning to be explored. In the present study, we use microarray technology to identify miRNAs induced in primary murine macrophages after exposure to polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid or the cytokine IFN-{beta}. miR-155 was the only miRNA of those tested that was substantially up-regulated by both stimuli. It also was induced by several Toll-like receptor ligands through myeloid differentiation factor 88- or TRIF-dependent pathways, whereas up-regulation by IFNs was shown to involve TNF-{alpha} autocrine signaling. Pharmacological inhibition of the kinase JNK blocked induction of miR-155 in response to either polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid or TNF-{alpha}, suggesting that miR-155-inducing signals use the JNK pathway. Together, these findings characterize miR-155 as a common target of a broad range of inflammatory mediators. Importantly, because miR-155 is known to function as an oncogene, these observations identify a potential link between inflammation and cancer

High-powEr Phosphorous-based DFB Lasers for Cold Atom Systems (HELCATS)

No abstract available

STAT3 Induction of miR-146b Forms a Feedback Loop to Inhibit the NF-kB to IL-6 Signaling Axis and STAT3-Driven Cancer Phenotypes

Interleukin-6 (IL-6)–mediated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a mechanism by which chronic inflammation can contribute to cancer and is a common oncogenic event. We discovered a pathway, the loss of which is associated with persistent STAT3 activation in human cancer. We found that the gene encoding the tumor suppressor microRNA miR-146b is a direct STAT3 target gene, and its expression was increased in normal breast epithelial cells but decreased in tumor cells. Methylation of the miR-146b promoter, which inhibited STAT3-mediated induction of expression, was increased in primary breast cancers. Moreover, we found that miR-146b inhibited nuclear factor kB (NF-kB)–dependent production of IL-6, subsequent STAT3 activation, and IL-6/STAT3–driven migration and invasion in breast cancer cells, thereby establishing a negative feedback loop. In addition, higher expression of miR-146b was positively correlated with patient survival in breast cancer subtypes with increased IL6 expression and STAT3 phosphorylation. Our results identify an epigenetic mechanism of crosstalk between STAT3 and NF-kB relevant to constitutive STAT3 activation in malignancy and the role of inflammation in oncogenesis

Investigation of the effect of the grain sizes on the dynamic strength of the fine-grained alumina ceramics obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering

The results of dynamic strength tests of the alumina ceramics with various grain sizes are presented. The ceramics were obtained by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) of industrial submicron and fine Al2O3 powders. The heating up was performed with the rate of 10 oC/min; the grain sizes in the ceramics was controlled by varying the SPS temperature and the heating rate as well as by varying the initial sizes of the Al2O3 particles in the powders. The ceramics had a high density (over 98%) and a uniform fine-grained microstructure (the mean grain sizes varied from 0.8 to 13.4 mkm). The dynamic compressing tests were carried out by modified Kolsky method with using split Hopkinson pressure bar. The tests were performed at room temperature using a 20-mm PG-20 gas gun with the strain rate of ~10^3 s-1. The dependence of the dynamic ultimate strength of alumina on the grain size was found for the first time to have a non-monotonous character (with a maximum). The maximum value of the dynamic ultimate compression strength (SY = 1060 MPa) was provided at the mean grain size of ~2.9-3 mkm. The reduction of SY for alumina in the range of submicron grain sizes was shown to originate from the reduction of the relative density of the ceramics sintered at lower SPS temperatures.Comment: 16 pages, 1 table, 6 figures, 28 reference

NF-κB dysregulation in microRNA-146a–deficient mice drives the development of myeloid malignancies

MicroRNA miR-146a has been implicated as a negative feedback regulator of NF-κB activation. Knockout of the miR-146a gene in C57BL/6 mice leads to histologically and immunophenotypically defined myeloid sarcomas and some lymphomas. The sarcomas are transplantable to immunologically compromised hosts, showing that they are true malignancies. The animals also exhibit chronic myeloproliferation in their bone marrow. Spleen and marrow cells show increased transcription of NF-κB–regulated genes and tumors have higher nuclear p65. Genetic ablation of NF-κB p50 suppresses the myeloproliferation, showing that dysregulation of NF-κB is responsible for the myeloproliferative disease