Deforming black holes with even multipolar differential rotation boundary

Motivated by the novel asymptotically global AdS$_4$ solutions with deforming horizon in [JHEP {\bf 1802}, 060 (2018)], we analyze the boundary metric with even multipolar differential rotation and numerically construct a family of deforming solutions with quadrupolar differential rotation boundary, including two classes of solutions: solitons and black holes. In contrast to solutions with dipolar differential rotation boundary, we find that even though the norm of Killing vector $\partial_t$ becomes spacelike for certain regions of polar angle $\theta$ when $\varepsilon>2$, solitons and black holes with quadrupolar differential rotation still exist and do not develop hair due to superradiance. Moreover, at the same temperature, the horizonal deformation of quadrupolar rotation is smaller than that of dipolar rotation. Furthermore, we also study the entropy and quasinormal modes of the solutions, which have the analogous properties to that of dipolar rotation.Comment: 18 pages, 21 figure

Physics perspectives of heavy-ion collisions at very high energy

Heavy-ion collisions at very high colliding energies are expected to produce a quark-gluon plasma (QGP) at the highest temperature obtainable in a laboratory setting. Experimental studies of these reactions can provide an unprecedented range of information on properties of the QGP at high temperatures. We report theoretical investigations of the physics perspectives of heavy-ion collisions at a future high-energy collider. These include initial parton production, collective expansion of the dense medium, jet quenching, heavy-quark transport, dissociation and regeneration of quarkonia, photon and dilepton production. We illustrate the potential of future experimental studies of the initial particle production and formation of QGP at the highest temperature to provide constraints on properties of strongly interaction matter.Comment: 35 pages in Latex, 29 figure

Differences and Similarities in the Clinicopathological Features of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors in China and the United States: A Multicenter Study

The presentation, pathology, and prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) in Asian patients have not been studied in large cohorts. We hypothesized that the clinicopathological features of PNETs of Chinese patients might be different from those of US patients. The objectives of this study were to address whether PNETs in Chinese patients exhibit unique clinicopathological features and natural history, and can be graded and staged using the WHO/ENETS criteria. This is a retrospective review of medical records of patients with PNETs in multiple academic medical centers in China (7) and the United States (2). Tumor grading and staging were based on WHO/ENETS criteria. The clinicopathological features of PNETs of Chinese and US patients were compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to find associations between survival and patient demographics, tumor grade and stage, and other clinicopathological characteristics. A total of 977 (527 Chinese and 450 US) patients with PNETs were studied. In general, Chinese patients were younger than US patients (median age 46 vs 56 years). In Chinese patients, insulinomas were the most common (52.2%), followed by nonfunctional tumors (39.7%), whereas the order was reversed in US patients. Tumor grade distribution was similar in the 2 countries (G1: 57.5% vs 55.0%; G2: 38.5% vs 41.3%; and G3: 4.0% vs 3.7%). However, age, primary tumor size, primary tumor location, grade, and stage of subtypes of PNETs were significantly different between the 2 countries. The Chinese nonfunctional tumors were significantly larger than US ones (median size 4 vs 3 cm) and more frequently located in the head/neck region (54.9% vs 34.8%). The Chinese and US insulinomas were similar in size (median 1.5 cm) but the Chinese insulinomas relatively more frequently located in the head/neck region (48.3% vs 26.1%). Higher grade, advanced stage, metastasis, and larger primary tumor size were significantly associated with unfavorable survival in both countries. Several clinicopathological differences are found between Chinese and US PNETs but the PNETs of both countries follow a similar natural history. The WHO tumor grading and ENETS staging criteria are applicable to both Chinese and US patients

Towards an integrated computational method to determine internal spaces for optimum environmental conditions

Computational Fluid Dynamics tools and Response Surface Methodology optimization techniques were coupled for the evaluation of an optimum window opening design that improves the ventilation efficiency in a naturally-ventilated building. The multi-variable optimization problem was based on Design of Experiments analysis and the Central Composite Design method for the sampling process and estimation of quadratic models for the response variables. The Screening optimization method was used for the generation of the optimal design solution. The generated results indicated a good performance of the estimated response surface revealing the strength correlations between the parameters. Window width was found to have greater impact on the flow rate values with correlation coefficient of 73.62%, in comparison to the standard deviation 55.68%, where the window height prevails with correlation coefficient of 96.94% and 12.35% for the flow rate. The CFD results were validated against wind tunnel experiments and the optimization solution was verified with simulation runs, proving the accuracy of the methodology followed, which is applicable to numerous environmental design problems

Variation in chemical composition and volatility of oxygenated organic aerosol in different rural, urban, and mountain environments

The apparent volatility of atmospheric organic aerosol (OA) particles is determined by their chemical composition and environmental conditions (e.g., ambient temperature). A quantitative, experimental assessment of volatility and the respective importance of these two factors remains challenging, especially in ambient measurements. We present molecular composition and volatility of oxygenated OA (OOA) particles in different rural, urban, and mountain environments (including Chacaltaya, Bolivia; Alabama, US; Hyytiälä, Finland; Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, Germany; and Delhi, India) based on deployments of a filter inlet for gases and aerosols coupled to a high-resolution time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometer (FIGAERO-CIMS). We find on average larger carbon numbers (nC) and lower oxygen-to-carbon (O : C) ratios at the urban sites (nC: 9.8 ± 0.7; O : C: 0.76 ± 0.03; average ±1 standard deviation) compared to the rural (nC: 8.8 ± 0.6; O : C: 0.80 ± 0.05) and mountain stations (nC: 8.1 ± 0.8; O : C: 0.91 ± 0.07), indicative of different emission sources and chemistry

Cripto-independent Nodal signaling promotes positioning of the A-P axis in the early mouse embryo

During early mouse development, the TGF beta-related protein Nodal specifies the organizing centers that control the formation of the anterior-posterior (A-P) axis. EGF-CFC proteins are important components of the Nodal signaling pathway, most likely by acting as Nodal coreceptors. However, the extent to which Nodal activity depends on EGF-CFC proteins is still debated. Cripto is the earliest EGF-CFC gene expressed during mouse embryogenesis and is involved in both A-P axis orientation and mesoderm formation. To investigate the relation between Cripto and Nodal in the early mouse embryo, we removed the Nodal antagonist Cerberus 1 (Cer1) and simultaneously Cripto, by generating Cer1;Cripto double mouse mutants. We observed that two thirds of the Cer1,Cripto double mutants are rescued in processes that are severely compromised in Cripto(-/-) embryos, namely A-P axis orientation, anterior mesendoderm and posterior neuroectoderin formation. The observed rescue is strongly reduced in Cer1;Cripto;Nodal triple mutants, suggesting that Nodal can signal extensively in the absence of Cripto, if Cer1 is also inhibited. This signaling activity drives A-P axis positioning. Our results provide evidence for the existence. of Cripto-independent signaling mechanisms, by which Nodal controls axis specification in the early mouse embryo. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

5-Formylcytosine alters the structure of the DNA double helix.

The modified base 5-formylcytosine (5fC) was recently identified in mammalian DNA and might be considered to be the 'seventh' base of the genome. This nucleotide has been implicated in active demethylation mediated by the base excision repair enzyme thymine DNA glycosylase. Genomics and proteomics studies have suggested an additional role for 5fC in transcription regulation through chromatin remodeling. Here we propose that 5fC might affect these processes through its effect on DNA conformation. Biophysical and structural analysis revealed that 5fC alters the structure of the DNA double helix and leads to a conformation unique among known DNA structures including those comprising other cytosine modifications. The 1.4-Å-resolution X-ray crystal structure of a DNA dodecamer comprising three 5fCpG sites shows how 5fC changes the geometry of the grooves and base pairs associated with the modified base, leading to helical underwinding.E.-A.R. is supported as a Herchel Smith Fellow. The Balasubramanian laboratory is supported by a Senior Investigator Award from the Wellcome Trust (099232/Z/12/Z to S.B.), and it also receives core funding from Cancer Research UK (C9681/A11961 to S.B.). D.Y.C. is supported by the Crystallographic X-ray Facility (CXF) at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, and B.F.L. is supported by the Wellcome Trust (076846/Z/05/A to B.F.L.). We thank the staff of Soleil and Diamond Light Source for use of facilities. We thank C. Calladine for stimulating discussions.This is the accepted manuscript for a paper published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology 22, 44–49 (2015) doi: 10.1038/nsmb.293

Role of cellular senescence and NOX4-mediated oxidative stress in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by progressive fibrosis of skin and numerous internal organs and a severe fibroproliferative vasculopathy resulting frequently in severe disability and high mortality. Although the etiology of SSc is unknown and the detailed mechanisms responsible for the fibrotic process have not been fully elucidated, one important observation from a large US population study was the demonstration of a late onset of SSc with a peak incidence between 45 and 54 years of age in African-American females and between 65 and 74 years of age in white females. Although it is not appropriate to consider SSc as a disease of aging, the possibility that senescence changes in the cellular elements involved in its pathogenesis may play a role has not been thoroughly examined. The process of cellular senescence is extremely complex, and the mechanisms, molecular events, and signaling pathways involved have not been fully elucidated; however, there is strong evidence to support the concept that oxidative stress caused by the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species may be one important mechanism involved. On the other hand, numerous studies have implicated oxidative stress in SSc pathogenesis, thus, suggesting a plausible mechanism in which excessive oxidative stress induces cellular senescence and that the molecular events associated with this complex process play an important role in the fibrotic and fibroproliferative vasculopathy characteristic of SSc. Here, recent studies examining the role of cellular senescence and of oxidative stress in SSc pathogenesis will be reviewed

Clustering daily patterns of human activities in the city

Data mining and statistical learning techniques are powerful analysis tools yet to be incorporated in the domain of urban studies and transportation research. In this work, we analyze an activity-based travel survey conducted in the Chicago metropolitan area over a demographic representative sample of its population. Detailed data on activities by time of day were collected from more than 30,000 individuals (and 10,552 households) who participated in a 1-day or 2-day survey implemented from January 2007 to February 2008. We examine this large-scale data in order to explore three critical issues: (1) the inherent daily activity structure of individuals in a metropolitan area, (2) the variation of individual daily activities—how they grow and fade over time, and (3) clusters of individual behaviors and the revelation of their related socio-demographic information. We find that the population can be clustered into 8 and 7 representative groups according to their activities during weekdays and weekends, respectively. Our results enrich the traditional divisions consisting of only three groups (workers, students and non-workers) and provide clusters based on activities of different time of day. The generated clusters combined with social demographic information provide a new perspective for urban and transportation planning as well as for emergency response and spreading dynamics, by addressing when, where, and how individuals interact with places in metropolitan areas.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and PlanningUnited States. Dept. of Transportation (Region One University Transportation Center)Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technolog

A multi-targeted approach to suppress tumor-promoting inflammation

Cancers harbor significant genetic heterogeneity and patterns of relapse following many therapies are due to evolved resistance to treatment. While efforts have been made to combine targeted therapies, significant levels of toxicity have stymied efforts to effectively treat cancer with multi-drug combinations using currently approved therapeutics. We discuss the relationship between tumor-promoting inflammation and cancer as part of a larger effort to develop a broad-spectrum therapeutic approach aimed at a wide range of targets to address this heterogeneity. Specifically, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenase-2, transcription factor nuclear factor-κB, tumor necrosis factor alpha, inducible nitric oxide synthase, protein kinase B, and CXC chemokines are reviewed as important antiinflammatory targets while curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, lycopene, and anthocyanins are reviewed as low-cost, low toxicity means by which these targets might all be reached simultaneously. Future translational work will need to assess the resulting synergies of rationally designed antiinflammatory mixtures (employing low-toxicity constituents), and then combine this with similar approaches targeting the most important pathways across the range of cancer hallmark phenotypes