2,196 research outputs found
New Singularity in Anisotropic, Time-Dependent Solutions to Maximally Gauss-Bonnet Extended Gravity
Among the solutions for anisotropic, time-dependent, maximally Gauss-Bonnet extended gravity, we find a class of curvature singularities for which the metric components remain finite. These new singularities therefore differ in type from the standard Kasner-like divergences expected for this class of theories. We study perturbative solutions near the singularity and show that there exist solutions with timelike paths that reach the singularity in finite proper time. Solving the equation of geodesic deviation in the same approximation, we show that the comoving coordinate system does not break down at the singularity. A brief classification of the corresponding singularity types in Robertson-Walker cosmologies is also provided
Recommended from our members
Epidermal growth factor receptor variant III mediates head and neck cancer cell invasion via STAT3 activation.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently overexpressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) where aberrant signaling downstream of this receptor contributes to tumor growth. EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII) is the most commonly altered form of EGFR and contains a truncated ligand-binding domain. We previously reported that EGFRvIII is expressed in up to 40% of HNSCC tumors where it is associated with increased proliferation, tumor growth and chemoresistance to antitumor drugs including the EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibody cetuximab. Cetuximab was FDA-approved in 2006 for HNSCC but has not been shown to prevent invasion or metastasis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the mechanisms of EGFRvIII-mediated cell motility and invasion in HNSCC. We found that EGFRvIII induced HNSCC cell migration and invasion in conjunction with increased signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation, which was not abrogated by cetuximab treatment. Further investigation showed that EGF-induced expression of the STAT3 target gene HIF1-α, was abolished by cetuximab in HNSCC cells expressing wild-type EGFR under hypoxic conditions, but not in EGFRvIII-expressing HNSCC cells. These results suggest that EGFRvIII mediates HNSCC cell migration and invasion by increased STAT3 activation and induction of HIF1-α, which contribute to cetuximab resistance in EGFRvIII-expressing HNSCC tumors
Deterministic models of quantum fields
Deterministic dynamical models are discussed which can be described in
quantum mechanical terms. -- In particular, a local quantum field theory is
presented which is a supersymmetric classical model. The Hilbert space approach
of Koopman and von Neumann is used to study the classical evolution of an
ensemble of such systems. Its Liouville operator is decomposed into two
contributions, with positive and negative spectrum, respectively. The unstable
negative part is eliminated by a constraint on physical states, which is
invariant under the Hamiltonian flow. Thus, choosing suitable variables, the
classical Liouville equation becomes a functional Schroedinger equation of a
genuine quantum field theory. -- We briefly mention an U(1) gauge theory with
``varying alpha'' or dilaton coupling where a corresponding quantized theory
emerges in the phase space approach. It is energy-parity symmetric and,
therefore, a prototype of a model in which the cosmological constant is
protected by a symmetry.Comment: 6 pages; synopsis of hep-th/0510267, hep-th/0503069, hep-th/0411176 .
Talk at Constrained Dynamics and Quantum Gravity - QG05, Cala Gonone
(Sardinia, Italy), September 12-16, 2005. To appear in the proceeding
Is there a relativistic nonlinear generalization of quantum mechanics?
Yes, there is. - A new kind of gauge theory is introduced, where the minimal
coupling and corresponding covariant derivatives are defined in the space of
functions pertaining to the functional Schroedinger picture of a given field
theory. While, for simplicity, we study the example of an U(1) symmetry, this
kind of gauge theory can accommodate other symmetries as well. We consider the
resulting relativistic nonlinear extension of quantum mechanics and show that
it incorporates gravity in the (0+1)-dimensional limit, where it leads to the
Schroedinger-Newton equations. Gravity is encoded here into a universal
nonlinear extension of quantum theory. The probabilistic interpretation, i.e.
Born's rule, holds provided the underlying model has only dimensionless
parameters.Comment: 10 pages; talk at DICE 2006 (Piombino, September 11-15, 2006); to
appear in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (2007
Effect of pancreatic and/or renal transplantation on diabetic autonomic neuropathy
Thirty-nine Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients were studied prospectively after simultaneous pancreas and kidney (n=26) and kidney grafting alone (n=13) by measuring heart rate variation during various manoeuvers and answering a standardized questionnaire every 6 to 12 months post-transplant. While age, duration of diabetes, and serum creatinine (168.1±35.4 vs 132.7±17.7 mgrmol/l) were comparable, haemoglobin A1 levels were significantly lower (6.6±0.2 vs 8.5±0.3%; p<0.01) and the mean observation time longer (35±2 vs 25±3 months; p<0.05) in the pancreas recipients when compared with kidney transplanted patients. Heart rate variation during deep breathing, lying/standing and Valsalva manoeuver were very similar in both groups initially and did not improve during follow-up. However, there was a significant reduction in heart rate in the pancreas recipient group. Autonomic symptoms of the gastrointestinal and thermoregulatory system improved more in the pancreas grafted subjects, while hypoglycaemia unawareness deteriorated in the kidney recipients. This study suggests that long-term normoglycaemia by successful pancreatic grafting is able to halt the progression of autonomic dysfunction
Physical realization of a quantum spin liquid based on a novel frustration mechanism
Unlike conventional magnets where the magnetic moments are partially or
completely static in the ground state, in a quantum spin liquid they remain in
collective motion down to the lowest temperatures. The importance of this state
is that it is coherent and highly entangled without breaking local symmetries.
Such phenomena is usually sought in simple lattices where antiferromagnetic
interactions and/or anisotropies that favor specific alignments of the magnetic
moments are "frustrated" by lattice geometries incompatible with such order
e.g. triangular structures. Despite an extensive search among such compounds,
experimental realizations remain very few. Here we describe the investigation
of a novel, unexplored magnetic system consisting of strong ferromagnetic and
weaker antiferromagnetic isotropic interactions as realized by the compound
CaCrO. Despite its exotic structure we show both
experimentally and theoretically that it displays all the features expected of
a quantum spin liquid including coherent spin dynamics in the ground state and
the complete absence of static magnetism.Comment: Modified version accepted in Nature Physic
Mitochondrial phylogeography and demographic history of the Vicuña: implications for conservation
The vicuña (Vicugna vicugna; Miller, 1924) is a conservation success story, having recovered from near extinction in the 1960s to current population levels estimated at 275 000. However, lack of information about its demographic history and genetic diversity has limited both our understanding of its recovery and the development of science-based conservation measures. To examine the evolution and recent demographic history of the vicuña across its current range and to assess its genetic variation and population structure, we sequenced mitochondrial DNA from the control region (CR) for 261 individuals from 29 populations across Peru, Chile and Argentina. Our results suggest that populations currently designated as Vicugna vicugna vicugna and Vicugna vicugna mensalis comprise separate mitochondrial lineages. The current population distribution appears to be the result of a recent demographic expansion associated with the last major glacial event of the Pleistocene in the northern (18 to 22°S) dry Andes 14–12 000 years ago and the establishment of an extremely arid belt known as the 'Dry Diagonal' to 29°S. Within the Dry Diagonal, small populations of V. v. vicugna appear to have survived showing the genetic signature of demographic isolation, whereas to the north V. v. mensalis populations underwent a rapid demographic expansion before recent anthropogenic impacts
Aquaculture Production of the Brown Seaweeds Laminaria digitata and Macrocystis pyrifera: Applications in Food and Pharmaceuticals
peer reviewedSeaweeds have a long history of use as food, as flavouring agents, and find use in traditional
folk medicine. Seaweed products range from food, feed, and dietary supplements to pharmaceuticals,
and from bioenergy intermediates to materials. At present, 98% of the seaweed required by the
seaweed industry is provided by five genera and only ten species. The two brown kelp seaweeds
Laminaria digitata, a native Irish species, and Macrocystis pyrifera, a native New Zealand species, are not
included in these eleven species, although they have been used as dietary supplements and as animal
and fish feed. The properties associated with the polysaccharides and proteins from these two species
have resulted in increased interest in them, enabling their use as functional foods. Improvements
and optimisations in aquaculture methods and bioproduct extractions are essential to realise the
commercial potential of these seaweeds. Recent advances in optimising these processes are outlined
in this review, as well as potential future applications of L. digitata and, to a greater extent, M. pyrifera
which, to date, has been predominately only wild-harvested. These include bio-refinery processing
to produce ingredients for nutricosmetics, functional foods, cosmeceuticals, and bioplastics. Areas
that currently limit the commercial potential of these two species are highlightedHorizon 202
RNA-binding protein CPEB1 remodels host and viral RNA landscapes.
Host and virus interactions occurring at the post-transcriptional level are critical for infection but remain poorly understood. Here, we performed comprehensive transcriptome-wide analyses revealing that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection results in widespread alternative splicing (AS), shortening of 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) and lengthening of poly(A)-tails in host gene transcripts. We found that the host RNA-binding protein CPEB1 was highly induced after infection, and ectopic expression of CPEB1 in noninfected cells recapitulated infection-related post-transcriptional changes. CPEB1 was also required for poly(A)-tail lengthening of viral RNAs important for productive infection. Strikingly, depletion of CPEB1 reversed infection-related cytopathology and post-transcriptional changes, and decreased productive HCMV titers. Host RNA processing was also altered in herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2)-infected cells, thereby indicating that this phenomenon might be a common occurrence during herpesvirus infections. We anticipate that our work may serve as a starting point for therapeutic targeting of host RNA-binding proteins in herpesvirus infections
Holographic Foam, Dark Energy and Infinite Statistics
Quantum fluctuations of spacetime give rise to quantum foam, and black hole
physics dictates that the foam is of holographic type. Applied to cosmology,
the holographic model requires the existence of dark energy which, we argue, is
composed of an enormous number of inert ``particles'' of extremely long
wavelength. These "particles" necessarily obey infinite statistics in which all
representations of the particle permutation group can occur. For every boson or
fermion in the present observable universe there could be such
"particles". We also discuss the compatibility between the holographic
principle and infinite statistics.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX; added references and footnotes; version to appear in
Physics Letters
- …