Higgs Mechanism for New Massive Gravity and Weyl Invariant Extensions of Higher Derivative Theories

New Massive Gravity provides a non-linear extension of the Fierz-Pauli mass for gravitons in 2+1 dimensions. Here we construct a Weyl invariant version of this theory. When the Weyl symmetry is broken, the graviton gets a mass in analogy with the Higgs mechanism. In (anti)-de Sitter backgrounds, the symmetry can be broken spontaneously, but in flat backgrounds radiative corrections, at the two loop level, break the Weyl symmetry a la Coleman-Weinberg mechanism. We also construct the Weyl invariant extensions of some other higher derivative models, such as the Gauss-Bonnet theory (which reduces to the Maxwell theory in three dimensions) and the Born-Infeld type gravities.Comment: 9 pages, typos fixed, minor corrections, to appear in Phys. Rev.

More on Cotton Flow

Cotton flow tends to evolve a given initial metric on a three manifold to a conformally flat one. Here we expound upon the earlier work on Cotton flow and study the linearized version of it around a generic initial metric by employing a modified form of the DeTurck trick. We show that the flow around the flat space, as a critical point, reduces to an anisotropic generalization of linearized KdV equation with complex dispersion relations one of which is an unstable mode, rendering the flat space unstable under small perturbations. We also show that Einstein spaces and some conformally flat non-Einstein spaces are linearly unstable. We refine the gradient flow formalism and compute the second variation of the entropy and show that generic critical points are extended Cotton solitons. We study some properties of these solutions and find a Topologically Massive soliton that is built from Cotton and Ricci solitons. In the Lorentzian signature, we also show that the pp-wave metrics are both Cotton and Ricci solitons.Comment: 22 pages, typos corrected, version to appear in JHE

Weyl-gauging of Topologically Massive Gravity

We construct a Weyl-invariant extension of topologically massive gravity which, remarkably, turns out to include topologically massive electrodynamics, with a Proca mass term, conformally coupled to a scalar field. The action has no dimensionful parameters, therefore, the masses are generated via symmetry breaking either radiatively in flat backgrounds or spontaneously in constant curvature backgrounds. The broken phase of the theory, generically, has a single massive spin-2 and a massive spin-1 excitation. Chiral gravity in asymptotically anti-de Sitter spacetimes does not arise as a low energy theory, while chiral gravity in de Sitter spacetime is not ruled out.Comment: 10 pages, minor changes made, version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Unitarity of Weyl-Invariant New Massive Gravity and Generation of Graviton Mass via Symmetry Breaking

We give a detailed analysis of the particle spectrum and the perturbative unitarity of the recently introduced Weyl-invariant version of the new massive gravity in 2+1 dimensions. By computing the action up to second order in the fluctuations of the metric, the gauge and the scalar fields around the anti-de Sitter (AdS) and flat vacua, we find that the theory describes unitary (tachyon and ghost-free) massive spin-2, massive (or massless) spin-1 and massless spin-0 excitations for certain ranges of the dimensionless parameters. The theory is not unitary in de Sitter space. Scale invariance is either broken spontaneously (in AdS background) or radiatively (in flat background) and hence the masses of the particles are generated either spontaneously or at the second loop order.Comment: 11 pages, Einstein-frame version of the Weyl-invariant quadratic gravity added in Appendix B. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Synthesis, structural characterization and anti-carcinogenic activity of new cyclotriphosphazenes containing dioxybiphenyl and chalcone groups

2,2-Dichloro-4,4,6,6-bis[spiro(2′,2″-dioxy-1′,1″-biphenylyl]cyclotriphosphazene (2) was synthesized from hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) and 2,2′-dihydroxybiphenyl. The mixed substituent chalcone/dioxybiphenyl cyclophosphazenes (2a–h) were obtained from the reactions of (2) with hydroxy chalcone compounds in K2CO3/acetone system. The chalcone-cyclophosphazene compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H, 13C, 31P NMR techniques. In vitro anti-carcinogenic activities of all compounds were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Anti-carcinogenic activity of the compounds (2a–h) against androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and independent (PC-3) human prostate cancer cell lines were investigated. Our results indicate that the chalcone-phosphazene compounds (2a–h) have anti-carcinogenic activity on PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines (p < 0.05). The effective dose of the compounds was determined as 100 μM.Fırat Üniversites

Nadir faktör eksikliği tanılı 36 olgunun değerlendirilmesi

Introduction: Rare factor deficiencies are predominantly autosomal recessively inherited disorders with a frequency of approximately 1: 500000 to 1: 2000000 in the general population. They account for 3-5% of all inherited coagulation disorders. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic features and clinical findings of 36 patients who were followed up and treated with the diagnosis of rare factor deficiency. Materials and Methods: A total of 36 patients aged between 0-16 years diagnosed with rare coagulation deficiencies were evaluated in terms of demographic, physical examination, clinical follow-up, and laboratory findings at the Dicle University Pediatric Hematology Unit. Ethics committee approval was obtained from Dicle University for the study on 16.03.2018 with decision no 115. Results: Rare factor deficiencies were diagnosed in 36 (35 %) of 103 patients who were followed up with coagulation disorders. Hemophilia a, hemophilia b, and von Willebrand disease constituted 67 of our patients. Familial consanguinity was present in 75, 6 %, and positive family history was found at 16.6% of the patients. 11 (32.4%) of our patients were diagnosed under the age of one year. Most of our patients diagnosed with factor X deficiency (38.8%). The most common symptoms were mucocutaneous bleeding (50%). Intracranial hemorrhage was detected in 7 (%19,5) patients. Conclusions: Early diagnosis and treatment are very important in the case of rare factor deficiency since severe bleeding complications such as intracranial hemorrhage may develop. Rare factor deficiencies are seen more frequently in places where consanguineous marriage is more common than the general population. Families should be informed about this issue, and family screening should be done early.Giriş: Nadir faktör eksiklikleri; çoğunlukla otozomal resesif geçiş gösteren,prevalansı 1/ 500.000 -1/2.000.000 arasında değişen pıhtılaşma faktör eksiklikleridir. Kalıtsal pıhtılaşma faktör eksikliklerinin %3-5’ini oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, nadir faktör eksikliği tanısı ile takip ve tedavi ettiğimiz hastaların demografik özellikleri ve klinik bulguları değerlendirilmiştir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmamızda, Dicle Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Çocuk Hematolojisi ve Onkolojisi biriminde nadir faktör eksikliği tanısı ile takip ve tedavi edilen, yaşları 0-16 yıl arasında değişen toplam 36 hasta değerlendirilmiştir. Hastaların demografik özellikleri,klinik izlem sonuçları ve labaratuar verileri incelenmiştir.Çalışma için Dicle Üniversitesi’nden 16.03.2018 tarihinde 115 nolu karar ile etik kurul onayı alınmıştır. Bulgular: Kalıtsal faktör eksikliği nedeniyle takip ve tedavi ettiğimiz 103 hastanın 36’sında (% 35) nadir faktör eksikliği tanısı mevcuttu. Hastalarımızın 67’sini hemofili A, hemofili B ve von Willebrand hastalığı oluşturuyordu. Anne ve babaların akrabalık oranı % 75,6 olup,aile öyküsü %16.6 olarak bulunmuştur. Hastalarımızın 11’i (%32,4) bir yaşından önce tanı almıştır.Hasta grubumuzda %38,8 oranı (14 hasta) ile FX eksikliği en fazla görülmektedir.Tanı anında en sık başvuru semptomunu %50 ile cilt-mukoza kanamaları oluşturmaktaydı. Ciddi kanamalardan intrakranial kanama yedi (%19,5) hastada görülmüştür. Sonuç: İntrakranial kanama gibi ciddi kanama komplikasyonlarıyla seyretmesinden dolayı nadir faktör eksikliğinde erken tanı ve tedavi çok önemlidir. Nadir faktör eksiklikleri, akraba evliliğinin fazla görüldüğü yerlerde genel popülasyona oranla sık görülmektedir. Ailelerin bu konuda bilgilendirilmesi,aile taramalarının erken dönemde yapılması gerekliliktir

Synthesis of 2-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-(substituted-phenyl)acrylonitriles: In vitro anticancer activity against MCF-7, PC-3 and A2780 cancer cell lines

A series of 2-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-(substituted-phenyl)acrylonitrile (2–9) were designed and synthesized to develop new cancer drugs. The structures of synthesized compounds 2–9 were described by using melting point, mass (MALDI-TOF-MS), FT-IR, elemental analysis, 1H, 13C, 13C-APT and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro anticancer activities of 2–9 against human breast cancer (MCF-7), human prostate cancer (PC-3) and human ovarian cancer cells (A2780) were investigated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay method. Additionally, the LogIC50 values of these compounds on A2780, MCF-7 and PC-3 cell lines were calculated by using inhibition % values by the GraphPad Prism 6 program on a computer. The results indicated that these compounds have high anticancer activity against MCF-7, PC-3 and A2780 cell lines (especially A2780 cell lines, p < 0.05).Sponsor Kuruluş: TÜBİTAK Finansman Kodu: 110T65

Novel domain-specific POU3F4 mutations are associated with X-linked deafness: examples from different populations

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the POU3F4 gene cause X-linked deafness type 3 (DFN3), which is characterized by inner ear anomalies. METHODS: Three Turkish, one Ecuadorian, and one Nigerian families were included based on either inner ear anomalies detected in probands or X-linked family histories. Exome sequencing and/or Sanger sequencing were performed in order to identify the causative DNA variants in these families. RESULTS: Four novel, c.707A>C (p.(Glu236Ala)), c.772delG (p.(Glu258ArgfsX30)), c.902C>T (p.(Pro301Leu)), c.987T>C (p.(Ile308Thr)), and one previously reported mutation c.346delG (p.(Ala116ProfsX26)) in POU3F4, were identified. All mutations identified are predicted to affect the POU-specific or POU homeo domains of the protein and co-segregated with deafness in all families. CONCLUSIONS: Expanding the spectrum of POU3F4 mutations in different populations along with their associated phenotypes provides better understanding of their clinical importance and will be helpful in clinical evaluation and counseling of the affected individuals. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12881-015-0149-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

(E)-1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-3-(substituted-phenyl)prop-2-en-1-ones: Synthesis, In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity and Molecular Docking Studies

A series of chalcone compounds (2–11) were designed and synthesized to determine their cytotoxic effects. The structures of 2–11 were fully characterized by their physical and spectral data. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of 2–11 were evaluated against human ovarian cancer (A2780), breast cancer (MCF-7) and prostate cancer (PC-3 and LNCaP) cell lines. The activity potentials of compounds were further evaluated through molecular docking studies with AutoDock4 and Vina softwares. All the compounds (except compound 5) showed significant cytotoxic effects at high doses in all cancer cell lines. Among all the compounds studied, one compound i.e. compound 2 demonstrated dose-dependent activity, particularly against A2780/LNCaP cancer cell lines. The most effective compounds 8, 9, 10 and 11 reduced the cell viability of A2780, MCF-7, PC-3 and LNCaP cells by 50–98%, while other compounds 2, 4 and 7 reduced the cell viability of A2780 cells by 70–90% at concentrations of 50 and 100 µM

Effect of pre-harvest organic cytokinin application on the post-harvest physiology of pepper (Capsicum annuum l.)

Peppers are cultivated in almost all provinces in Turkey, making up approximately 7% of the world’s production. In this study, the effects of pre-harvest cytokinin application on the postharvest physiology of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruits (cv. Akra and Melek F1) grown in ecological conditions in Turkey (Van, eastern Turkey) were investigated. During the growing period, organic cytokinin(nytrozine) at two concentrations (50 and 100 ppm doses) was applied by spraying. Peppers were harvested in green maturity and then stored at 12 °C for 28 days. Changes in color, respiration rate, exogenous ethylene amount, antioxidative enzyme analysis (SOD, CAT and APX), lipid peroxidation, total phenolic content (TP) and antioxidant activity (AA) were determined just after the harvest and then at the 7th, 14th, 24th and 28th days. L* values for both varieties and the control sample had fluctuations during storage, and they slightly decreased after 28 days, except for the end value of cv. Melek F1 with a 50 ppm addition. In terms of respiration rate values, the difference between applications was found to be statistically significant, except for the 14th and 24th days of storage, for cv. Akra F1; and the 0th and 28th days for cv. Melek F1, respectively. It was observed that cytokinin can delay aging in peppers of both cultivars stored for 28 days. As a result, as the used cytokinin has an organic origin, is not synthetic and does not have a negative effect on human health, it can be used safely and without a significant loss of quality characteristics for peppers. These applications have positive effects on in-package gas composition, antioxidative enzymes, lipid peroxidation, total phenolics and total antioxidant activity. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.TBU in Zlin [IGA/FT/2021/008]IGA/FT/2021/00