676 research outputs found
Factorization properties of genus-two bosonic and fermionic string partition functions
The genus-two bosonic and fermionic string partition functions factorize, in the separating pinching limit, into genus-one partition functions after integrating out the supermoduli with super-Beltrami support on the puncture points in the fermionic and heterotic case
Heterotic flux backgrounds and their IIA duals
We study four-dimensional heterotic flux vacua with N=2 spacetime supersymmetry. A worldsheet perspective is used to clarify quantization conditions associated to the fluxes and the constraints these place on the moduli spaces of resulting compactifications. We propose that these vacua fit naturally in the context of heterotic/IIA duality as heterotic duals to compactifications on K3-fibered but not elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau three-folds. We present some examples of such potential dual pairs
Tubulin bond energies and microtubule biomechanics determined from nanoindentation in silico
Microtubules, the primary components of the chromosome segregation machinery,
are stabilized by longitudinal and lateral non-covalent bonds between the
tubulin subunits. However, the thermodynamics of these bonds and the
microtubule physico-chemical properties are poorly understood. Here, we explore
the biomechanics of microtubule polymers using multiscale computational
modeling and nanoindentations in silico of a contiguous microtubule fragment. A
close match between the simulated and experimental force-deformation spectra
enabled us to correlate the microtubule biomechanics with dynamic structural
transitions at the nanoscale. Our mechanical testing revealed that the
compressed MT behaves as a system of rigid elements interconnected through a
network of lateral and longitudinal elastic bonds. The initial regime of
continuous elastic deformation of the microtubule is followed by the transition
regime, during which the microtubule lattice undergoes discrete structural
changes, which include first the reversible dissociation of lateral bonds
followed by irreversible dissociation of the longitudinal bonds. We have
determined the free energies of dissociation of the lateral (6.9+/-0.4
kcal/mol) and longitudinal (14.9+/-1.5 kcal/mol) tubulin-tubulin bonds. These
values in conjunction with the large flexural rigidity of tubulin
protofilaments obtained (18,000-26,000 pN*nm^2), support the idea that the
disassembling microtubule is capable of generating a large mechanical force to
move chromosomes during cell division. Our computational modeling offers a
comprehensive quantitative platform to link molecular tubulin characteristics
with the physiological behavior of microtubules. The developed in silico
nanoindentation method provides a powerful tool for the exploration of
biomechanical properties of other cytoskeletal and multiprotein assemblie
Preparo do solo pós-colheita do arroz irrigado.
bitstream/CPACT-2010/13008/1/preparo-do-solo.pd
Effect of iNOS inhibition on exhaled NO and serum nitrate in hyperdynamic porcine endotoxemia
Fission half-lives of super-heavy nuclei in a microscopic approach
A systematic study of 160 heavy and super-heavy nuclei is performed in the
Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov approach with the finite range and density dependent
Gogny force with the D1S parameter set. We show calculations in several
approximations: with axially symmetric and reflexion symmetric wave functions,
with axially symmetric and non-reflexion symmetric wave functions and finally
some representative examples with triaxial wave functions are also discussed.
Relevant properties of the ground state and along the fission path are
thoroughly analyzed. Fission barriers, Q-factors and lifetimes with
respect to fission and -decay as well as other observables are
discussed. Larger configuration spaces and more general HFB wave functions as
compared to previous studies provide a very good agreement with the
experimental data.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figure
Analysis of the superdefomed rotational bands
All available experimental data for the transition energies in
superdeformed bands are analyzed by using a new one-point formula. The
existence of deviations from the smooth behavior is confirmed in many bands.
However, we stress that one cannot necessarily speak about staggering patterns
as they are mostly irregular. Simulations of the experimental data suggest that
the irregularities may stem from the presence of irregular kinks in the
rotational spectra. This could be a clue but, at the moment, where such kinks
come from is an open question.Comment: 6 pages, RevTex, 7 p.s. figures, submitted to P.R.
Relative Properties of Smooth Terminating Bands
The relative properties of smooth terminating bands observed in the A~110
mass region are studied within the effective alignment approach. Theoretical
values of are calculated using the configuration-dependent
shell-correction model with the cranked Nilsson potential. Reasonable agreement
with experiment shows that previous interpretations of these bands are
consistent with the present study. Contrary to the case of superdeformed bands,
the effective alignments of these bands deviate significantly from the pure
single-particle alignments of the corresponding orbitals. This
indicates that in the case of smooth terminating bands, the effects associated
with changes in equilibrium deformations contribute significantly to the
effective alignment.Comment: 15 pages, 8 PostScript figures, RevTex, uses 'epsf', submitted to
Nucl. Phys.
Aplicação da sequenciação de nova geração ao diagnóstico genético do cancro da mama hereditário
Introdução: O cancro da mama hereditário (CMH) constitui 5-10% dos casos de cancro da mama, dos quais cerca de 30% se devem a mutações germinais de elevada penetrância nos genes BRCA1 e BRCA2. Embora tenham sido identificadas mutações noutros genes de suscetibilidade para cancro da mama, estas são raras, pelo que a análise sequencial de múltiplos genes se torna ineficaz e dispendiosa pelos métodos convencionais(1,2). A determinação da causa genética subjacente ao CMH permite não só identificar os indivÃduos com risco aumentado de cancro da mama, como oferecer uma medicina personalizada, mais eficaz na redução da incidência de cancro da mama assim como da morbilidade e mortalidade associadas(3). A sequenciação de nova geração (NGS) veio possibilitar a pesquisa de mutações em múltiplos genes em simultâneo, permitindo um diagnóstico molecular rápido, eficaz e com custo inferior ao da sequenciação de Sanger.
Objetivos: Otimizar o diagnóstico molecular do CMH através da implementação de um protocolo de NGS baseado num painel abrangente de genes de suscetibilidade para cancro da mama. A 1ª fase de concretização deste objetivo consistiu em validar a utilização da NGS na deteção de mutações nos genes BRCA1, BRCA2 e TP53.
Material e métodos: Foram analisadas por NGS 12 amostras de doentes com cancro da mama, previamente sequenciadas pelo método de Sanger para os genes BRCA1, BRCA2 e TP53. As bibliotecas de sequências-alvo foram preparadas a partir de DNA genómico pelo método de captura por hibridação, num protocolo que integrou o Trusight Cancer Sequencing Panel e o kit TruSight Rapid Capture (Illumina), e sequenciadas numa plataforma MiSeq com leituras paired-end de 150 bp. A análise bioinformática incluiu os softwares MiSeq Reporter, VariantStudio e Isaac Enrichment (Illumina).
Resultados: Foram detetadas por NGS um total de 97 variantes de sequência nos genes BRCA1, BRCA2 e TP53, das quais 35 são variantes únicas (33 single nucleotide variants e 2 deleções), numa concordância de 100% com a sequenciação de Sanger.
Conclusões: Estes resultados preliminares comprovam a eficiência da NGS na deteção de variantes em 3 genes de elevada penetrância para cancro da mama e abrem caminho para a oferta de um painel de genes de suscetibilidade para cancro da mama que permitirá um diagnóstico molecular do CMH mais abrangente, rápido e com custos reduzidos relativamente à sequenciação de Sanger.
Bibiografia
1. Tung N, Batteli C, Allen B et al. (2015). Frequency of mutations in individuals with breast cancer referred for BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing using next-generation sequencing with a 25-gene panel. Cancer, 121: 25-33.
2. Apostolou P, Fostira F (2013). Hereditary breast cancer: the era of new susceptibility genes. BioMed Res Int, 2013: 747318.
3. Ellsworth R, Decewicz D, Shriver C, Ellsworth D (2010). Breast cancer in the personal genomics era. Curr Genomics, 11: 146-161
Lasting effects of workplace strength training for neck/shoulder/arm pain among laboratory technicians:Natural experiment with 3-year follow-up
Objectives. This study investigated long-term effects and implementation processes of workplace strength training for musculoskeletal disorders. Methods. 333 and 140 laboratory technicians from private and public sector companies, respectively, replied to a 3-year follow-up questionnaire subsequent to a 1-year randomized controlled trial (RCT) with high-intensity strength training for prevention and treatment of neck, shoulder, and arm pain. Being a natural experiment, the two participating companies implemented and modified the initial training program in different ways during the subsequent 2 years after the RCT. Results. At 3-year follow-up the pain reduction in neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist achieved during the first year was largely maintained at both companies. However, the private sector company was rated significantly better than the public sector company in (1) training adherence, (2) training culture, that is, relatively more employees trained at the workplace and with colleagues, (3) self-reported health changes, and (4) prevention of neck and wrist pain development among initially pain-free employees. Conclusions. This natural experiment shows that strength training can be implemented successfully at different companies during working hours on a long-term basis with lasting effects on pain in neck, shoulder, and arm
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