Scalar perturbations of higher dimensional rotating and ultra-spinning black holes

We investigate the stability of higher dimensional rotating black holes against scalar perturbations. In particular, we make a thorough numerical and analytical analysis of six-dimensional black holes, not only in the low rotation regime but in the high rotation regime as well. Our results suggest that higher dimensional Kerr black holes are stable against scalar perturbations, even in the ultra-spinning regime.Comment: 7 pages, ReVTeX

Discovery of possible molecular counterparts to the infrared Double Helix Nebula in the Galactic center

We have discovered two molecular features at radial velocities of -35 km/s and 0 km/s toward the infrared Double Helix Nebula (DHN) in the Galactic center with NANTEN2. The two features show good spatial correspondence with the DHN. We have also found two elongated molecular ridges at these two velocities distributed vertically to the Galactic plane over 0.8 degree. The two ridges are linked by broad features in velocity and are likely connected physically with each other. The ratio between the 12CO J=2-1 and J=1-0 transitions is 0.8 in the ridges which is larger than the average value 0.5 in the foreground gas, suggesting the two ridges are in the Galactic center. An examination of the K band extinction reveals a good coincidence with the CO 0 km/s ridge and is consistent with a distance of 8 +/-2 kpc. We discuss the possibility that the DHN was created by a magnetic phenomenon incorporating torsional Alfv\'en waves launched from the circumnuclear disk (Morris, Uchida & Do 2006) and present a first estimate of the mass and energy involved in the DHN.Comment: 32 pages, 23 figures, Accepted by Ap

Absence of the spleen(s) in conjoined twins: a diagnostic clue of laterality defects? Radiological study of historical specimens

Laterality defects are quite common in thoracoileopagus and parapagus dicephalus but rare in other types of conjoined twins. To present the presumed laterality defects in cephalothoracoileopagus and prosopothoracoileopagus conjoined twins, based on the unilateral or bilateral absence or duplication of the spleen. Three human anatomical specimens of craniothoracoileopagus (CTIP) twins and one of prosopothoracoileopagus (PTIP) twins were investigated. The specimens were part of the Museum Vrolik collection of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology of the Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The specimens were taken out of their jars and scanned with multidetector CT and volumetric T2-weighted MRI at 1.5 T. The internal anatomy of the specimens was largely in accordance with previous reports. However, there was no recognisable spleen in the right twin in one CTIP specimen, in the left twin in one other CTIP specimen, and in both twins in the third CTIP specimen and in the PTIP specimen. Asplenia and polysplenia are considered reliable indicators of right and left isomerism, respectively. However, three of our four specimens had laterality patterns that did not correspond with those previously reported. Since no other parameters of laterality defects could be verified in these specimens, we concluded that asplenia was unlikely to be caused by laterality defect

Cold Plasma Wave Analysis in Magneto-Rotational Fluids

This paper is devoted to investigate the cold plasma wave properties. The analysis has been restricted to the neighborhood of the pair production region of the Kerr magnetosphere. The Fourier analyzed general relativistic magnetohydrodynamical equations are dealt under special circumstances and dispersion relations are obtained. We find the $x$-component of the complex wave vector numerically. The corresponding components of the propagation vector, attenuation vector, phase and group velocities are shown in graphs. The direction and dispersion of waves are investigated.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophys. Space Sc

A Predominant Role for Parenchymal c-Jun Amino Terminal Kinase (JNK) in the Regulation of Systemic Insulin Sensitivity

It has been established that c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) is essential to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Although JNK influences inflammatory signaling pathways, it remains unclear whether its activity in macrophages contributes to adipose tissue inflammation and ultimately to the regulation of systemic metabolism. To address whether the action of this critical inflammatory kinase in bone marrow-derived elements regulates inflammatory responses in obesity and is sufficient and necessary for the deterioration of insulin sensitivity, we performed bone marrow transplantation studies with wild type and JNK1-deficient mice. These studies illustrated that JNK1-deficiency in the bone marrow-derived elements (BMDE) was insufficient to impact macrophage infiltration or insulin sensitivity despite modest changes in the inflammatory profile of adipose tissue. Only when the parenchymal elements lacked JNK1 could we demonstrate a significant increase in systemic insulin sensitivity. These data indicate that while the JNK1 activity in BMDE is involved in metabolic regulation and adipose milieu, it is epistatic to JNK1 activity in the parenchymal tissue for regulation of metabolic homeostasis

Serum Levels of Adipocyte Fatty Acid-Binding Protein Are Associated with the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease in Chinese Women

BACKGROUND: Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) has been described as a novel adipokine, playing an important role in the development of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum levels of A-FABP and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese subjects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Circulating A-FABP level was determined by ELISA in 341 Chinese subjects (221 men, 120 women) who underwent coronary angiography. A-FABP levels in patients with CAD were significantly higher compared with non-CAD subjects (P = 0.029 in men; P = 0.031 in women). Serum A-FABP increased significantly in multi-vessel diseased patients than in non-CAD subjects (P = 0.011 in men, P = 0.004 in women), and showed an independent correlation with coronary atherosclerosis index (standardized β = 0.173, P = 0.025). In multiple logistic regression analysis, serum A-FABP was an independent risk factor for CAD in women (OR = 5.637, 95%CI: 1.299-24.457, P = 0.021). In addition, amino terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was demonstrated to be positively and independently correlated with A-FABP (standardized β = 0.135, P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Serum A-FABP is closely associated with the presence and severity of CAD in Chinese women

Uterine selection of human embryos at implantation

Human embryos frequently harbor large-scale complex chromosomal errors that impede normal development. Affected embryos may fail to implant although many first breach the endometrial epithelium and embed in the decidualizing stroma before being rejected via mechanisms that are poorly understood. Here we show that developmentally impaired human embryos elicit an endoplasmic stress response in human decidual cells. A stress response was also evident upon in vivo exposure of mouse uteri to culture medium conditioned by low-quality human embryos. By contrast, signals emanating from developmentally competent embryos activated a focused gene network enriched in metabolic enzymes and implantation factors. We further show that trypsin, a serine protease released by pre-implantation embryos, elicits Ca2+ signaling in endometrial epithelial cells. Competent human embryos triggered short-lived oscillatory Ca2+ fluxes whereas low-quality embryos caused a heightened and prolonged Ca2+ response. Thus, distinct positive and negative mechanisms contribute to active selection of human embryos at implantation

Seletividade do nicosulfuron em linhagens e híbridos de milho.

O milho é uma das principais culturas da agricultura brasileira, não somente no aspecto produtivo, como também no que diz respeito à sua importância estratégica, por ser um dos principais componentes em rações para nutrição animal, servindo assim, consequentemente, como uma das bases para a alimentação humana. Um dos fatores que mais interferem na produtividade do milho em condições de campo é a competição com outras plantas que emergem no mesmo espaço, as chamadas plantas daninhas. Para o controle de plantas daninhas em plantios comerciais, a opção mais utilizada tem sido a aplicação de herbicidas, dentre os quais o nicosulfuron é um dos principais indicados para a cultura do milho. Entretanto, o emprego de herbicidas para o controle de plantas daninhas deve considerar a seletividade ao herbicida para a cultura. Plantas são consideradas como sensíveis quando seu crescimento e desenvolvimento são alterados pela ação de um produto herbicida, enquanto a tolerância consiste na capacidade inata da planta sobreviver e se reproduzir após o tratamento herbicida, mesmo sofrendo injúrias (Vargas; Roman, 2006). Tanto a tolerância quanto a sensibilidade a herbicidas são características altamente relacionadas com a variabilidade genética natural da espécie, e podem ser alteradas por pressão de seleção, mutação, cruzamento entre genótipos tolerantes e sensíveis, e/ou biotecnologia.bitstream/item/178566/1/circ-237.pd