Proper holomorphic maps between bounded symmetric domains with small rank differences

In this paper we study the rigidity of proper holomorphic maps $f\colon \Omega\to\Omega'$ between irreducible bounded symmetric domains $\Omega$ and $\Omega'$ with small rank differences: $2\leq \text{rank}(\Omega')< 2\,\text{rank}(\Omega)-1$. More precisely, if either $\Omega$ and $\Omega'$ have the same type or $\Omega$ is of type~III and $\Omega'$ is of type~I, then up to automorphisms, $f$ is of the form $f=\imath\circ F$, where $F = F_1\times F_2\colon \Omega\to \Omega_1'\times \Omega_2'$. Here $\Omega_1'$, $\Omega_2'$ are bounded symmetric domains, the map $F_1\colon \Omega \to \Omega_1'$ is a standard embedding, $F_2: \Omega \to \Omega_2'$, and $\imath\colon \Omega'_1\times \Omega'_2 \to \Omega'$ is a totally geodesic holomorphic isometric embedding. Moreover we show that, under the rank condition above, there exists no proper holomorphic map $f: \Omega \to \Omega'$ if $\Omega$ is of type~I and $\Omega'$ is of type~III, or $\Omega$ is of type~II and $\Omega'$ is either of type~I or III. By considering boundary values of proper holomorphic maps on maximal boundary components of $\Omega$, we construct rational maps between moduli spaces of subgrassmannians of compact duals of $\Omega$ and $\Omega'$, and induced CR-maps between CR-hypersurfaces of mixed signature, thereby forcing the moduli map to satisfy strong local differential-geometric constraints (or that such moduli maps do not exist), and complete the proofs from rigidity results on geometric substructures modeled on certain admissible pairs of rational homogeneous spaces of Picard number 1

Clinical outcomes of a CT protocol for simultaneous examination of the aorta and coronary artery in patients with aortic aneurysm

ObjectivesIn patients with aortic aneurysm (AA), coronary artery disease (CAD) increases the risk of perioperative complications and even asymptomatic CAD is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. We aimed to compare coronary-aorta CT (CACT) with thoracoabdominal CT angiography (Aorta CT) for CAD management and clinical outcomes in these patients.MethodsWe enrolled 479 patients undergoing CACT and 693 patients undergoing Aorta CT as an initial CT scan for AA. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or myocardial infarction (MI) at 3 years after CT. The secondary outcomes were subsequent CAD management and invasive coronary angiography (CAG).ResultsAfter index CT scan, the CACT group had a significantly higher rate of coronary revascularization compared with the Aorta CT group (10.7% vs. 3.8%, p &lt; 0.001) but a lower probability of diagnostic CAG among total invasive CAG (32% vs. 55%, p &lt; 0.001). At 3 months after the CT scan, the prescription rates of statins (65.8% vs. 44.6%, p &lt; 0.001) and antiplatelet agents (57.6% vs. 43.9%, p &lt; 0.001) were higher in the CACT group. During follow-up, the CACT group had a significantly lower incidence of the composite outcome of all-cause death or MI (adjusted HR 1.72, 95% CI 1.07–2.78, p = 0.027) than the Aorta CT group.ConclusionAmong patients with AA, CACT was associated with a higher rate of subsequent CAD management and a lower risk of all-cause death or MI compared to Aorta CT. When evaluating with AA using CT, simultaneous coronary and aortic evaluation using CACT would be recommended over Aorta CT

Association of serum adipocytokine levels with cardiac autonomic neuropathy in type 2 diabetic patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a common complication of diabetes associated with poor prognosis. In addition, the autonomic imbalance is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in diabetes. It is thought that adipocytokines contribute to the increased risk of vascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, literature data on the association between CAN with adipocytokines such as leptin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), adiponectin in subjects with T2DM is limited.</p> <p>Therefore, in the present study, we examined the relationship between fasting serum leptin, TNF- alpha and adiponectin and CAN in Korean T2DM patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 142 T2DM patients (94 males, 48 females) were recruited. CAN was assessed by the five tests according to the Ewing's protocol and the time and frequency domain of the heart rate variability (HRV) was evaluated. Serum TNF-alpha and adiponectin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serum leptin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although, the mean levels of leptin, TNF-alpha and adiponectin were not significantly different between the groups with and without CAN, the levels of leptin and adiponectin had a tendency to increase as the score of CAN increased (p = 0.05, p = 0.036). Serum leptin levels demonstrated a negative correlation with low frequency (LF) in the upright position (p = 0.037). Regarding TNF-alpha, a significant negative correlation was observed with SDNN and RMSSD in the upright position (p = 0.023, p = 0.019). Adiponectin levels were not related to any HRV parameters. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the odds of CAN increased with a longer duration of diabetes (1.25, [1.07-1.47]) and higher homeostatic model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (5.47, [1.8-16.5]). The relative risks for the presence of CAN were 14.1 and 51.6 for the adiponectin 2^nd, 3^rdtertiles when compared with first tertile (p-value for trend = 0.022).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In the present study, the higher serum adiponectin levels and HOMA-IR were associated with an increased risk for the presence of CAN. Also, the CAN score correlated with the serum adiponectin. Serum adipocytokines such as leptin and TNF-alpha were significantly correlated with parameters of HRV, representative markers of CAN. Future prospective studies with larger number of patients are required to establish a direct relationship between plasma adipocytokine concentrations and the development or severity of CAN.</p

Small-sized flat-tip CNT emitters for miniaturized X-ray tubes

Small tip-type CNT emitters with the diameter of 0.8 mm were fabricated for miniaturized X-ray tubes. The CNT emitters were prepared by dropping CNTs and silver nanoparticles on a flat surface of a W metal tip followed by annealing at 800 • C for 2 h under vacuum. The CNT emitters exhibit good field emission properties with the threshold electric field of 1.15 V/μm and the field enhancement factor of 12,050. CNTs were well attached to a flat W tip surface without coating on the side plane of the tip, and thus beam divergence could be minimized. Consequently, a miniaturized X-ray tube with the inner diameter of 5 mm was successfully demonstrated using the tip-type CNT emitter. Nanostructured materials are widely used for electron emitters because of their good field-emission properties • C can induce a serious heating of the small X-ray tube. High operating temperature of miniaturized X-ray tubes limits the applications of the tubes, for example, to brachytherapy. Consequently, a cooling device is required for the operation, but the cooling device increases the size of the miniaturized X-ray tube. In this sense, CNT emitters are proper electron sources because electrons are generated through field emission, and hence the cold emission process does not increase the temperature of the X-ray tube. In addition, CNT emitters are also promising electron emitters for microfocus X-ray tube

Small-Sized Flat-Tip CNT Emitters for Miniaturized X-Ray Tubes

Small tip-type CNT emitters with the diameter of 0.8 mm were fabricated for miniaturized X-ray tubes. The CNT emitters were prepared by dropping CNTs and silver nanoparticles on a flat surface of a W metal tip followed by annealing at 800°C for 2 h under vacuum. The CNT emitters exhibit good field emission properties with the threshold electric field of 1.15 V/μm and the field enhancement factor of 12,050. CNTs were well attached to a flat W tip surface without coating on the side plane of the tip, and thus beam divergence could be minimized. Consequently, a miniaturized X-ray tube with the inner diameter of 5 mm was successfully demonstrated using the tip-type CNT emitter

Differential associations of central and brachial blood pressure with carotid atherosclerosis and microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: We examined the relationship between central blood pressure (BP), brachial BP with carotid atherosclerosis and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: We recruited 201 patients who were evaluated for central BP, brachial BP, carotid ultrasonography, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), ankle-brachial index (ABI) and microvascular complications. Central BP were calculated using a radial automated tonometric system. RESULTS: Agreement between central BP and brachial BP was very strong (concordance correlation coefficient between central and brachial SBP = 0.889, between central and brachial PP = 0.816). Central pulse pressure (PP) was correlated with mean carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), baPWV and ABI, whereas brachial PP was borderline significantly correlated with CIMT. The prevalence of nephropathy(DN) and retinopathy(DR) according to the brachial PP tertiles increased, the prevalences of microvascular complications were not different across central PP tertiles. In multivariate analysis, the relative risks (RRs) for the presence of DR were 1.2 and 4.6 for the brachial PP tertiles 2 and 3 when compared with the first tertile. Also, the RRs for the presence of DN were 1.02 and 3 for the brachial PP tertiles 2 and 3 when compared with the first tertile. CONCLUSIONS: Agreement of central BP and brachial BP was very strong. Nonetheless, this study showed that higher brachial PP levels are associated with increased probability for the presence of microvascular complications such as DR/DN. However, there are no associations with central SBP and central PP with microvascular complications. Central BP levels than brachial BP are correlated with surrogate marker of macrovascular complications