Spherically symmetric equilibria for self-gravitating kinetic or fluid models in the non-relativistic and relativistic case - A simple proof for finite extension

We consider a self-gravitating collisionless gas as described by the Vlasov-Poisson or Einstein-Vlasov system or a self-gravitating fluid ball as described by the Euler-Poisson or Einstein-Euler system. We give a simple proof for the finite extension of spherically symmetric equilibria, which covers all these models simultaneously. In the Vlasov case the equilibria are characterized by a local growth condition on the microscopic equation of state, i.e., on the dependence of the particle distribution on the particle energy, at the cut-off energy E_0, and in the Euler case by the corresponding growth condition on the equation of state p=P(\rho) at \rho=0. These purely local conditions are slight generalizations to known such conditions.Comment: 20 page

Impact of droughts on the carbon cycle in European vegetation : a probabilistic risk analysis using six vegetation models

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Resection of the liver for colorectal carcinoma metastases - A multi-institutional study of long-term survivors

In this review of a collected series of patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal metastases, 100 patients were found to have survived greater than five years from the time of resection. Of these 100 long-term survivors, 71 remain disease-free through the last follow-up, 19 recurred prior to five years, and ten recurred after five years. Patient characteristics that may have contributed to survival were examined. Procedures performed included five trisegmentectomies, 32 lobectomies, 16 left lateral segmentectomies, and 45 wedge resections. The margin of resection was recorded in 27 patients, one of whom had a positive margin, nine of whom had a less than or equal to 1-cm margin, and 17 of whom had a greater than 1-cm margin. Eighty-one patients had a solitary metastasis to the liver, 11 patients had two metastases, one patient had three metastases, and four patients had four metastases. Thirty patients had Stage C primary carcinoma, 40 had Stage B primary carcinoma, and one had Stage A primarycarcinoma. The disease-free interval from the time of colon resection to the time of liver resection was less than one year in 65 patients, and greater than one year in 34 patients. Three patients had bilobar metastases. Four of the patients had extrahepatic disease resected simultaneously with the liver resection. Though several contraindications to hepatic resection have been proposed in the past, five-year survival has been found in patients with extrahepatic disease resected simultaneously, patients with bilobar metastases, patients with multiple metastases, and patients with positive margins. Five-year disease-free survivors are also present in each of these subsets. It is concluded that five-year survival is possible in the presence of reported contraindications to resection, and therefore that the decision to resect the liver must be individualized. © 1988 American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

The Trypanosoma cruzi vitamin C dependent peroxidase confers protection against oxidative stress but is not a determinant of virulence.

BACKGROUND: The neglected parasitic infection Chagas disease is rapidly becoming a globalised public health issue due to migration. There are only two anti-parasitic drugs available to treat this disease, benznidazole and nifurtimox. Thus it is important to identify and validate new drug targets in Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent. T. cruzi expresses an ER-localised ascorbate-dependent peroxidase (TcAPx). This parasite-specific enzyme has attracted interest from the perspective of targeted chemotherapy. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To assess the importance of TcAPx in protecting T. cruzi from oxidative stress and to determine if it is essential for virulence, we generated null mutants by targeted gene disruption. Loss of activity was associated with increased sensitivity to exogenous hydrogen peroxide, but had no effect on susceptibility to the front-line Chagas disease drug benznidazole. This suggests that increased oxidative stress in the ER does not play a significant role in its mechanism of action. Homozygous knockouts could proceed through the entire life-cycle in vitro, although they exhibited a significant decrease in their ability to infect mammalian cells. To investigate virulence, we exploited a highly sensitive bioluminescence imaging system which allows parasites to be monitored in real-time in the chronic stage of murine infections. This showed that depletion of enzyme activity had no effect on T. cruzi replication, dissemination or tissue tropism in vivo. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: TcAPx is not essential for parasite viability within the mammalian host, does not have a significant role in establishment or maintenance of chronic infections, and should therefore not be considered a priority for drug design

First finds of Prunus domestica L. in Italy from the Phoenician and Punic periods (6th-2nd centuries BC)

Abstract During the archaeological excavations in the Phoenician and Punic settlement of Santa Giusta (Oristano, Sardinia, Italy), dating back to the 6th–2nd centuries bc, several Prunus fruitstones (endocarps) inside amphorae were recovered. The exceptional state of preservation of the waterlogged remains allowed morphometric measurements to be done by image analysis and statistical comparisons made with modern cultivated and wild Prunus samples collected in Sardinia. Digital images of modern and archaeological Prunus fruitstones were acquired with a flatbed scanner and analysed by applying image analysis techniques to measure 26 morphometric features. By applying stepwise linear discriminant analysis, a morphometric comparison was made between the archaeological fruitstones of Prunus and the modern ones collected in Sardinia. These analyses allowed identification of 53 archaeological fruitstones as P. spinosa and 11 as P. domestica. Moreover, the archaeological samples of P. spinosa showed morphometric similarities in 92.5% of the cases with the modern P. spinosa samples currently growing near the Phoenician and Punic site. Likewise, the archaeological fruitstones identified as P. domestica showed similarities with the modern variety of P. domestica called Sanguigna di Bosa which is currently cultivated near the village of Bosa. Currently, these findings represent the first evidence of P. domestica in Italy during the Phoenician and Punic periods. Keywords Archaeobotany · Image analysis · Morphometric features · Prunus · Sardini

Cultural Control of Phylloxera in Existing Vineyards by Root System Conversation

1993_17; 1994_8; 1995_7CA Grape Rootstock Improvement Comm.: USDA Rootstock Eval., Raisins Cultivar Eval., Carnelian Eval.Calif. Grape Rootstock Improvement Commission 1997-98Box 2 C-E36; Box 2 C-E4

Evaluation of Earthgreen Imperial Blend for the production of Thompson Seedless grapes in the San Joaquin Valley of California

CA Grape Rootstock Improvement Comm.: USDA Rootstock1996_28Box 3 D-L11; Box 3 D-L24; Box 3 D-L25; Box 2 C-E39; Box 2 C-E40CA Grape Rootstock Improvement Com.: USDA TS R/S 1998 SyrahCSUF USDA Raisin Cultivar Experiment 1997Evaluation of Earthgreen Products Inc. Imperial BlendEarthgreen Imperial Blend Products 199

The tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 controls TGFβ-induced STAT3 signaling to regulate fibroblast activation and fibrosis

Uncontrolled activation of TGFβ signaling is a common denominator of fibrotic tissue remodeling. Here we characterize the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 as a molecular checkpoint for TGFβ-induced JAK2/STAT3 signaling and as a potential target for the treatment of fibrosis. TGFβ stimulates the phosphatase activity of SHP2, although this effect is in part counterbalanced by inhibitory effects on SHP2 expression. Stimulation with TGFβ promotes recruitment of SHP2 to JAK2 in fibroblasts with subsequent dephosphorylation of JAK2 at Y570 and activation of STAT3. The effects of SHP2 on STAT3 activation translate into major regulatory effects of SHP2 on fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis. Genetic or pharmacologic inactivation of SHP2 promotes accumulation of JAK2 phosphorylated at Y570, reduces JAK2/STAT3 signaling, inhibits TGFβ-induced fibroblast activation and ameliorates dermal and pulmonary fibrosis. Given the availability of potent SHP2 inhibitors, SHP2 might thus be a potential target for the treatment of fibrosis

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