186 research outputs found
Locally continuously perfect groups of homeomorphisms
The notion of a locally continuously perfect group is introduced and studied.
This notion generalizes locally smoothly perfect groups introduced by Haller
and Teichmann. Next, we prove that the path connected identity component of the
group of all homeomorphisms of a manifold is locally continuously perfect. The
case of equivariant homeomorphism group and other examples are also considered.Comment: 14 page
Inactivity of nitric oxide synthase gene in the atherosclerotic human carotid artery
Objective : Nitric oxide (NO) inhibits thrombus formation, vascular contraction, and smooth muscle cell proliferation. We investigated whether NO release is enhanced after endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene transfer in atherosclerotic human carotid artery ex vivo. Methods and Results : Western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed that transduction enhanced eNOS expression; however, neither nitrite production nor NO release measured by porphyrinic microsensor was altered. In contrast, transduction enhanced NO production in non-atherosclerotic rat aorta and human internal mammary artery. In transduced carotid artery, calcium-dependent eNOS activity was minimal and did not differ from control conditions. Vascular tetrahydrobiopterin concentrations did not differ between the experimental groups.Treatment of transduced carotid artery with FAD, FMN, NADPH, L-arginine, and either sepiapterin or tetrahydrobiopterin did not alter NO release. Superoxide formation was similar in transduced carotid artery and control. Treatment of transduced carotid artery with superoxide dismutase (SOD), PEG-SOD, PEG-catalase did not affect NO release. Conclusions : eNOS transduction in atherosclerotic human carotid artery results in high expression without any measurable activity of the recombinant protein. The defect in the atherosclerotic vessels is neither caused by cofactor deficiency nor enhanced NO breakdown. Since angioplasty is performed in atherosclerotic arteries,eNOS gene therapy is unlikely to provide clinical benefi
Topological gravity on plumbed V-cobordisms
An ensemble of cosmological models based on generalized BF-theory is
constructed where the role of vacuum (zero-level) coupling constants is played
by topologically invariant rational intersection forms (cosmological-constant
matrices) of 4-dimensional plumbed V-cobordisms which are interpreted as
Euclidean spacetime regions. For these regions describing topology changes, the
rational and integer intersection matrices are calculated. A relation is found
between the hierarchy of certain elements of these matrices and the hierarchy
of coupling constants of the universal (low-energy) interactions.
PACS numbers: 0420G, 0240, 0460Comment: 29 page
Age differences in physiological responses to self-paced and incremental testing
Purpose: A self-paced maximal exercise protocol has demonstrated higher values when compared against traditional tests. The aim was to compare physiological responses to this self-paced protocol (SPV) in comparison to a traditional ramp (RAMP) protocol in young (18–30 years) and old (50–75 years) participants. Methods: Forty-four participants (22 young; 22 old) completed both protocols in a randomised, counter-balanced, crossover design. The SPV included 5 × 2 min stages, participants were able to self-regulate their power output (PO) by using incremental ‘clamps’ in ratings of perceived exertion. The RAMP consisted of either 15 or 20 W min. Results: Expired gases, cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), muscular deoxyhaemoglobin (deoxyHb) and electromyography (EMG) at the vastus lateralis were recorded throughout. Results demonstrated significantly higher in the SPV (49.68 ± 10.26 ml kg min) vs. the RAMP (47.70 ± 9.98 ml kg min) in the young, but not in the old group (>0.05). Q and SV were significantly higher in the SPV vs. the RAMP in the young (0.05). No differences seen in deoxyHb and EMG for either age groups (>0.05). Peak PO was significantly higher in the SPV vs. the RAMP in both age groups (<0.05). Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that the SPV produces higher , peak Q and SV values in the young group. However, older participants achieved similar values in both protocols, mostly likely due to age-related differences in cardiovascular responses to incremental exercise, despite them achieving a higher physiological workload in the SPV
La stratification naturelle des espaces de fonctions différentiables réelles et le théorème de la pseudo-isotopie
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