Spectrum from the warped compactifications with the de Sitter universe

We discuss the spectrum of the tensor metric perturbations and the stability of warped compactifications with the de Sitter spacetime in the higher-dimensional gravity. The spacetime structure is given in terms of the warped product of the non-compact direction, the spherical internal dimensions and the four-dimensional de Sitter spacetime. To realize a finite bulk volume, we construct the brane world model, using the cut-copy-paste method. Then, we compactify the spherical directions on the brane. In any case, we show the existence of the massless zero mode and the mass gap of it with massive Kaluza-Klein modes. Although the brane involves the spherical dimensions, no light massive mode is excited. We also investigate the scalar perturbations, and show that the model is unstable due to the existence of a tachyonic bound state, which seems to have the universal negative mass square, irrespective of the number of spacetime dimensions.Comment: Journal version (JHEP

Ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase downregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma

In this study, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time of fly mass spectrometry to identify the protein(s) associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) by comparing patterns of OSCC-derived cell lines with normal oral keratinocytes (NOKs), and found that downregulation of ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (CKMT1) could be a good candidate. Decreased levels of CKMT1 mRNA and protein were detected in all OSCC-derived cell lines examined (n=9) when compared to those in primary normal oral keratinocytes. Although no sequence variation in the coding region of the CKMT1 gene with the exception of a nonsense mutation in exon 8 was identified in these cell lines, we found a frequent hypermethylation in the CpG island region. CKMT1 expression was restored by experimental demethylation. In addition, when we transfected CKMT1 into the cell lines, they showed an apoptotic phenotype but no invasiveness. In clinical samples, high frequencies of CKMT1 downregulation were detected by immunohistochemistry (19 of 52 (37%)) and quantitative real-time RT–PCR (21 of 50 (42%)). Furthermore, the CKMT1 expression status was significantly correlated with tumour differentiation (P<0.0001). These results suggest that the CKMT1 gene is frequently inactivated during oral carcinogenesis and that an epigenetic mechanism may regulate loss of expression, which may lead to block apoptosis

Coordinated Tax-Tariff Reforms, Informality, and Welfare Distribution

The paper studies the revenue, efficiency, and distributional implications of a simple strategy of offsetting tariff reductions with increases in destination-based consumption taxes so as to leave consumer prices unchanged. We employ a dynamic micro-founded macroeconomic model of a small open developing economy, which features an informal sector that cannot be taxed, a formal agricultural sector, and an import-substitution sector. The reform strategy increases government revenue, imports, exports, and the informal sector. In contrast to Emran and Stiglitz (2005), who ignore the dynamic effects of taxes and tariffs on factor markets, we find an efficiency gain, which is unevenly distributed. Existing generations benefit more than future generations, who (depending on pre-existing tax and tariff rates and the informal sector size) even may become worse off

Low Carbon Growth: Economic Progress from the Planet’s Perspective

The term “low carbon growth” does not appear explicitly in any of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the 169 associated Targets (UN General Assembly 2015). Instead, it is mentioned by means of a synonymous term in one of the associated Indicators, i.e., in SDG Indicator13.2.1. The Paris Agreement mentions the phrase “low greenhouse gas emissions development” in two articles of the treaty (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015). It seems likely then that the Paris Agreement was the source of the above phrase for SDG Indicator 13.2.1. Low carbon growth refers to a type of growth that relies on lower carbon emissions per unit of economic output, compared to the business-as-usual type of economic growth. The switch to a low carbon growth path is undertaken in order to become a low carbon economy

Contrasting disease patterns in seropositive and seronegative neuromyelitis optica: A multicentre study of 175 patients

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic and pathophysiological relevance of antibodies to aquaporin-4 (AQP4-Ab) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) has been intensively studied. However, little is known so far about the clinical impact of AQP4-Ab seropositivity. OBJECTIVE: To analyse systematically the clinical and paraclinical features associated with NMO spectrum disorders in Caucasians in a stratified fashion according to the patients' AQP4-Ab serostatus. METHODS: Retrospective study of 175 Caucasian patients (AQP4-Ab positive in 78.3%). RESULTS: Seropositive patients were found to be predominantly female (p 1 myelitis attacks in the first year were identified as possible predictors of a worse outcome. CONCLUSION: This study provides an overview of the clinical and paraclinical features of NMOSD in Caucasians and demonstrates a number of distinct disease characteristics in seropositive and seronegative patients

Unfolding Simulations of Holomyoglobin from Four Mammals: Identification of Intermediates and β-Sheet Formation from Partially Unfolded States

Myoglobin (Mb) is a centrally important, widely studied mammalian protein. While much work has investigated multi-step unfolding of apoMb using acid or denaturant, holomyoglobin unfolding is poorly understood despite its biological relevance. We present here the first systematic unfolding simulations of holoMb and the first comparative study of unfolding of protein orthologs from different species (sperm whale, pig, horse, and harbor seal). We also provide new interpretations of experimental mean molecular ellipticities of myoglobin intermediates, notably correcting for random coil and number of helices in intermediates. The simulated holoproteins at 310 K displayed structures and dynamics in agreement with crystal structures (R g ~1.48-1.51 nm, helicity ~75%). At 400 K, heme was not lost, but some helix loss was observed in pig and horse, suggesting that these helices are less stable in terrestrial species. At 500 K, heme was lost within 1.0-3.7 ns. All four proteins displayed exponentially decaying helix structure within 20 ns. The C- and F-helices were lost quickly in all cases. Heme delayed helix loss, and sperm whale myoglobin exhibited highest retention of heme and D/E helices. Persistence of conformation (RMSD), secondary structure, and ellipticity between 2-11 ns was interpreted as intermediates of holoMb unfolding in all four species. The intermediates resemble those of apoMb notably in A and H helices, but differ substantially in the D-, E- and F-helices, which interact with heme. The identified mechanisms cast light on the role of metal/cofactor in poorly understood holoMb unfolding. We also observed β-sheet formation of several myoglobins at 500 K as seen experimentally, occurring after disruption of helices to a partially unfolded, globally disordered state; heme reduced this tendency and sperm-whale did not display any sheet propensity during the simulations

Radion Dynamics and Electroweak Physics

The dynamics of a stabilized radion in the Randall-Sundrum model (RS) with two branes is investigated, and the effects of the radion on electroweak precision observables are evaluated. The radius is assumed to be stabilized using a bulk scalar field as suggested by Goldberger and Wise. First the mass and the wavefunction of the radion is determined including the backreaction of the bulk stabilization field on the metric, giving a typical radion mass of order the weak scale. This is demonstrated by a perturbative computation of the radion wavefunction. A consequence of the background configuration for the scalar field is that after including the backreaction the Kaluza-Klein (KK) states of the bulk scalars couple directly to the Standard Model fields on the TeV brane. Some cosmological implications are discussed, and in particular it is found that the shift in the radion at late times is in agreement with the four-dimensional effective theory result. The effect of the radion on the oblique parameters is evaluated using an effective theory approach. In the absence of a curvature-scalar Higgs mixing operator, these corrections are small and give a negative contribution to S. In the presence of such a mixing operator, however, the corrections can be sizable due to the modified Higgs and radion couplings.Comment: 42 pages, LaTeX, 14 figures; v2: minor changes and references added. To appear in PR

The human capital transition and the role of policy

Along with information and communication technology, infrastructure, and the innovation system, human capital is a key pillar of the knowledge economy with its scope for increasing returns. With this in mind, the purpose of this chapter is to investigate how industrialized economies managed to achieve the transition from low to high levels of human capital. The first phase of the human capital transition was the result of the interaction of supply and demand, triggered by technological change and boosted by the demands for (immaterial) services. The second phase of the human capital transition (i.e., mass education) resulted from enforced legislation and major public investment. The state’s aim to influence children’s beliefs appears to have been a key driver in public investment. Nevertheless, the roles governments played differed according to the developmental status and inherent socioeconomic and political characteristics of their countries. These features of the human capital transition highlight the importance of understanding governments’ incentives and roles in transitions