Tau functions as Widom constants

We define a tau function for a generic Riemann-Hilbert problem posed on a union of non-intersecting smooth closed curves with jump matrices analytic in their neighborhood. The tau function depends on parameters of the jumps and is expressed as the Fredholm determinant of an integral operator with block integrable kernel constructed in terms of elementary parametrices. Its logarithmic derivatives with respect to parameters are given by contour integrals involving these parametrices and the solution of the Riemann-Hilbert problem. In the case of one circle, the tau function coincides with Widom's determinant arising in the asymptotics of block Toeplitz matrices. Our construction gives the Jimbo-Miwa-Ueno tau function for Riemann-Hilbert problems of isomonodromic origin (Painlev\'e VI, V, III, Garnier system, etc) and the Sato-Segal-Wilson tau function for integrable hierarchies such as Gelfand-Dickey and Drinfeld-Sokolov.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figure

Reconstructive challenge of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the female breast

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is an uncommon locally aggressive malignant neoplasm that most frequently appears in the trunk, followed by the extremities, head, and neck. But occurrence in the breast is extremely rare. We present a case of a 28-year-old woman, who had a history of trauma 5 years previously and excision 1 year before presentation at our clinic. We performed wide excision, together with microscopic and immunohistochemical analysis. No postoperative oncologic treatment was used and she remains disease-free 1 year after the surgery without any tumor recurrence. Here, we report a case of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the female breast and present a detailed discussion of the diagnosis and treatment with reference to available literatures

Design, Analysis and Empirical Researches for Solar Heat Collecting System based on Flat Mirrors Combination

There has been a dramatic increase of research on energy production using solar energy. This research aims to examine development of concentrating solar collector that is related to mid-high solar energy field. Although the use of dish type solar thermal system has been common in the existing high-efficiency collector technology, several problems have been raised. In order to solve these issues, the frame has been designed as flat plate type with Fresnel lens and the structural stability has been proved by analysis. Furthermore, the experiment that checks collectorrsquos temperature has been performed for the correct works of the stirling engine

Tau positron emission tomography in tauopathies: A narrative review

Aggregation of misfolded tau in the brain is a major pathological feature common in various neurodegenerative disorders known as tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Tauopathies are collection of diseases with varied overlapping symptoms and complicated manifestations. Consequently, it is crucial to be able to assess tau deposits in vivo. Over the past decade, tau-specific radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) have been developed and tested, including first-generation compounds (e.g., 18F-THK5317, 18F-THK5351, 18F-AV1451, and 11C-PBB3) and second-generation compounds (18F-MK-6240, 18F-RO-948, and 18F-PI-2620). With the recent advances of tau PET tracers, assessing the pattern of tau deposition in vivo is possible. These methods will allow accurate diagnosis of tauopathies and monitoring of disease progression. In this mini review, we summarize current findings from studies using tau PET tracers regarding neuropathological characteristics, clinical implications, and potential applications of tau PET. We also discuss methodological considerations for appropriate use of these technologies and discuss what has been learned from these findings

Recognition of the microbiota by Nod2 contributes to the oral adjuvant activity of cholera toxin through the induction of interleukin-1β

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152023/1/imm13105_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/152023/2/imm13105.pd

Pectinase-treated Panax ginseng ameliorates hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 sperm cells and modulates testicular gene expression in aged rats

AbstractBackgroundTo investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models.MethodsHydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting.ResultsGINST treatment (50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 200 μg/mL) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the H2O2-induced (200 μM) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST (50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the H2O2-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-α, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated H2O2-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats.ConclusionGINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility

Activation of Protein Kinase G After Repeated Cocaine Administration Is Necessary for the Phosphorylation of α-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methyl-4-Isoxazolepropionic Acid Receptor GluA1 at Serine 831 in the Rat Nucleus Accumbens

Phosphorylation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors in the striatum plays a crucial role in regulating the receptor-coupled signaling cascades leading to behavioral changes associated with psychostimulant exposure. The present study determined if activation of protein kinase G (PKG) contributes to the phosphorylation of AMPA receptor GluA1 subunit at the position of serine 831 (GluA1-S831) in the rat nucleus accumbens (NAc) after repeated cocaine administration. The results demonstrated that repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of cocaine (20 mg/kg) once a day for seven consecutive days significantly increased the level of phosphorylated (p)GluA1-S831. This increase was decreased by the intra-NAc infusion of either the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) analog, Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS (5 nmol/1 μL), or the PKG inhibitor, KT5823 (2 nmol/1 μL). Repeated cocaine administration increased PKG binding activity to GluA1. This increase in GluA1-S831 phosphorylation after repeated cocaine administration was decreased by the intra-NAc infusion of the synthetic peptide (Tat-tagged interfering peptide (Tat-GluA1-i)), that interferes with the binding of PKG to GluA1. Intra-NAc infusion of the interfering peptide also reduced the repeated cocaine-induced increase in locomotor activity. These findings suggest that activated PKG, after repeated exposure to cocaine, binds to AMPA receptor GluA1 and is required for the phosphorylation of S831, contributing to behavioral changes

Visceral Myopathy of Intestinal Pseudoobstruction

Intestinal pseudoobstruction is a syndrome complex caused by a variety of disorders of various etiology. It can be classified pathologically as visceral myopathy and visceral neuropathy. The sporadic form of visceral myopathy is characterized histologically by vacuolar degeneration and fibrosis of smooth muscle but differs from the familial form only by the absence of other affected family members. We studied 6 cases with intestinal pseudoobstruction classified as sporadic visceral myopathy. They were four boys and two girls, and were two neonates, two infants and two children. The duration of symptoms ranged from two days to two years. Two babies were dead from pneumonia and sepsis. Others were alleviated after surgical resection of the bowel. Both small and large intestines were found affected in autopsy cases. Histopathologic features were vacuolar degeneration of muscularis propria, disproportionate hypoplasia of outer muscle layer, abnormal muscle direction of muscularis propria, submucosal and/or interstitial fibrosis and extra muscle layering. It is presumed that a variety of histopathologic features accounts for visceral myopathy of intestinal pseudoobstruction