74 research outputs found
Soliton-potential interaction in the nonlinear Klein-Gordon model
The interaction of solitons with external potentials in nonlinear
Klein-Gordon field theory is investigated using an improved model. The
presented model has been constructed with a better approximation for adding the
potential to the Lagrangian through the metric of background space-time. The
results of the model are compared with another model and the differences are
discussed.Comment: 14 pages,8 figure
Collective-coordinate analysis of inhomogeneous nonlinear Klein-Gordon field theory
Two different sets of collective-coordinate equations for solitary solutions
of Nonlinear Klein-Gordon (NKG) model is introduced. The collective-coordinate
equations are derived using different approaches for adding the inhomogeneities
as exrernal potentials to the soliton equation of motion. Interaction of the
NKG field with a local inhomogeneity like a delta function potential wall and
also delta function potential well is investigated using the presented
collective-coordinate equations and the results of two different models are
compared. Most of the characters of the interaction are derived analytically.
Analytical results are also compared with the results of numerical simulations.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Volume 43 of the
Brazilian Journal of Physic
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Designing double-gap linear accelerators for a wide mass range
For applications like ion implantation, rf linacs using double-gap structures with external resonators can be used because they are practical at low frequencies. However, since the two gaps associated with a given resonator cannot be individually phased, it is not obvious how to build a linac that can efficiently accelerate particles having different mass/charge ratios. This paper describes the beam dynamics of double-gap rf linacs and shows how to maximize the range of mass/charge ratios. The theory also tells one how to rescale a linac tune (i.e., reset the voltages and phases) so that a new particle, having a different mass or charge, will behave similarly to the original particle
Accuracy of screening women at familial risk of breast cancer without a known gene mutation:individual patient data meta-analysis
Introduction Women with a strong family history of breast cancer (BC) and without a known gene mutation have an increased risk of developing BC. We aimed to investigate the accuracy of screening using annual mammography with or without magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for these women outside the general population screening program. Methods An individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis was conducted using IPD from six prospective screening trials that had included women at increased risk for BC: only women with a strong familial risk for BC and without a known gene mutation were included in this analysis. A generalised linear mixed model was applied to estimate and compare screening accuracy (sensitivity, specificity and predictive values) for annual mammography with or without MRI. Results There were 2226 women (median age: 41 years, interquartile range 35â47) with 7478 woman-years of follow-up, with a BC rate of 12 (95% confidence interval 9.3â14) in 1000 woman-years. Mammography screening had a sensitivity of 55% (standard error of mean [SE] 7.0) and a specificity of 94% (SE 1.3). Screening with MRI alone had a sensitivity of 89% (SE 4.6) and a specificity of 83% (SE 2.8). Adding MRI to mammography increased sensitivity to 98% (SE 1.8, P < 0.01 compared to mammography alone) but lowered specificity to 79% (SE 2.7, P < 0.01 compared with mammography alone). Conclusion In this population of women with strong familial BC risk but without a known gene mutation, in whom BC incidence was high both before and after age 50, adding MRI to mammography substantially increased screening sensitivity but also decreased its specificity.</p
Intensive breast screening in BRCA2 mutation carriers is associated with reduced breast cancer specific and all cause mortality
Generation and characterization of a defective HIV-1 Virus as an immunogen for a therapeutic vaccine
BACKGROUND: The generation of new immunogens able to elicit strong specific immune responses remains a major challenge in the attempts to obtain a prophylactic or therapeutic vaccine against HIV/AIDS. We designed and constructed a defective recombinant virus based on the HIV-1 genome generating infective but non-replicative virions able to elicit broad and strong cellular immune responses in HIV-1 seropositive individuals. RESULTS: Viral particles were generated through transient transfection in producer cells (293-T) of a full length HIV-1 DNA carrying a deletion of 892 base pairs (bp) in the pol gene encompassing the sequence that codes for the reverse transcriptase (NL4-3/ÎRT clone). The viral particles generated were able to enter target cells, but due to the absence of reverse transcriptase no replication was detected. The immunogenic capacity of these particles was assessed by ELISPOT to determine Îł-interferon production in a cohort of 69 chronic asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositive individuals. Surprisingly, defective particles produced from NL4-3/ÎRT triggered stronger cellular responses than wild-type HIV-1 viruses inactivated with Aldrithiol-2 (AT-2) and in a larger proportion of individuals (55% versus 23% seropositive individuals tested). Electron microscopy showed that NL4-3/ÎRT virions display immature morphology. Interestingly, wild-type viruses treated with Amprenavir (APV) to induce defective core maturation also induced stronger responses than the same viral particles generated in the absence of protease inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that immature HIV-1 virions generated from NL4-3/ÎRT viral clones may represent new prototypes of immunogens with a safer profile and stronger capacity to induce cellular immune responses than wild-type inactivated viral particles.This study was supported by grants FIS PI050265, FIS PI040503, FIS PI070291, FIS Intrasalud 080752, FIS PS09/01297, FIS PI10/02984, SAF2006-26667-E, FIT 09-010-205-9, FIPSE 36780/08, FundaciĂłn MĂștua Madrileña, TRA-094, EC10-153, ISCIII-RETIC RD06/0006, HIVACATâHIV Development Program in Catalonia, FIPSE 36630/07, UE Program Health 2009 CHAARM. Spanish Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Health Department of the Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.S
In virio SHAPE analysis of tRNALys3 annealing to HIV-1 genomic RNA in wild type and protease-deficient virus
Growth, yield and physiology of Verticillium-inoculated pepper plants treated with ATAD and composted sewage sludge
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