212 research outputs found
Mathematical Support to Braneworld Theory
The braneworld theory appear with the purpose of solving the problem of the
hierarchy of the fundamental interactions. The perspectives of the theory
emerge as a new physics, for example, deviation of the law of Newton's gravity.
One of the principles of the theory is to suppose that the braneworld is local
submanifold in a space of high dimension, the bulk, solution of Einstein's
equations in high dimension. In this paper we approach the mathematical
consistency of this theory with a new proof of the fundamental theorem of
submanifolds for case of semi-Riemannian manifolds. This theorem consist an
essential mathematical support for this new theory. We find the integrability
conditions for the existence of space-time submanifolds in a pseudo-Euclidean
space.
Keywords: Submanifolds, Braneworld, Pseudo-Riemannian geometryComment: 10 page
MreB helical pitch angle determines cell diameter in Escherichia coli
Bacteria have remarkably robust cell shape control mechanisms. For example,
cell diameter only varies by a few percent across a population. MreB is
necessary for establishment and maintenance of rod shape although the mechanism
of shape control remains unknown. We perturbed MreB in two complimentary ways
to produce steady-state cell diameters over a wide range, from 790+/-30 nm to
1700+/-20 nm. To determine which properties of MreB are important for diameter
control, we correlated structural characteristics of fluorescently-tagged MreB
polymers with cell diameter by simultaneously analyzing 3-dimensional images of
MreB and cell shape. Our results indicate that the pitch angle of MreB
inversely correlates with cell diameter. Other correlations are not found to be
significant. These results demonstrate that the physical properties of MreB
filaments are important for shape control and support a model in which MreB
dictates cell diameter and organizes cell wall growth to produce a chiral cell
wall
Introduction to a Biological Systems Science
Biological systems analysis and biodynamic modelling of physiological and biological interrelationships in human body and mammal
Gender Dependence for a Subset of the Low-Abundance Signaling Proteome in Human Platelets
The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is ten-times higher in males than females, although the biological basis for this gender disparity is not known. However, based on the fact that antiplatelet drugs are the mainstay for prevention and therapy, we hypothesized that the signaling proteomes in platelets from normal male donors might be more activated than platelets from normal female donors. We report here that platelets from male donors express significantly higher levels of signaling cascade proteins than platelets from female
donors. In silico connectivity analysis shows that the 24 major hubs in platelets from male donors focus on pathways associated with megakaryocytic expansion and platelet activation. By contrast, the 11 major hubs in platelets from female donors were found to be either negative or neutral for platelet-relevant processes. The difference may suggest a biological mechanism for gender discrimination in cardiovascular disease
Non-Raft AC2 Defines a cAMP Signaling Compartment That Selectively Regulates IL-6 Expression in Airway Smooth Muscle Cells
Adenylyl cyclase (AC) isoforms differ in their tissue distribution, cellular localization, regulation, and protein interactions. Most cell types express multiple AC isoforms. We hypothesized that cAMP produced by different AC isoforms regulates unique cellular responses in human bronchial smooth muscle cells (BSMC). Overexpression of AC2, AC3, or AC6 had distinct effects on forskolin (Fsk)-induced expression of a number of known cAMP-responsive genes. These data show that different AC isoforms can differentially regulate gene expression. Most notable, overexpression and activation of AC2 enhanced interleukin 6 (IL-6) expression, but overexpression of AC3 or AC6 had no effect. IL-6 production by BSMC was induced by Fsk and select G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) agonists, though IL-6 levels did not directly correlate with global cAMP levels. Treatment with PKA selective 6-Bnz-cAMP or Epac selective 8-CPT-2Me-cAMP cAMP analogs revealed a predominant role for PKA in cAMP-mediated induction of IL-6. IL-6 promoter mutations demonstrated that AP-1 and CRE transcription sites were required for Fsk to stimulate IL-6 expression. Our present study defines an AC2 cAMP signaling compartment that specifically regulates IL-6 expression in BSMC via Epac and PKA and demonstrates that other AC isoforms are excluded from this pool
The masterpieces of John Forbes Nash Jr.
In this set of notes I follow Nash’s four groundbreaking works on real algebraic manifolds, on isometric embeddings of Riemannian manifolds and on the continuity of solutions to parabolic equations. My aim has been to stay as close as possible to Nash’s original arguments, but at the same time present them with a more modern language and notation. Occasionally I have also provided detailed proofs of the points that Nash leaves to the reader
Carotid Artery Intima-Media Thickness, Carotid Plaque and Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke in Chinese
Background: Our aim was to prospectively investigate the association between carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) as well as carotid plaque and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in Chinese, among whom data are limited. Methods and Findings: We conducted a community-based cohort study composed of 2190 participants free of cardiovascular disease at baseline in one community. During a median 10.5-year follow up, we documented 68 new cases of coronary heart disease and 94 cases of stroke. The multivariate relative risks (RRs) associated with a change of 1 standard deviation of maximal common carotid IMT were 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.70) for CHD and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.28–1.69) for stroke. The corresponding RRs with internal carotid IMT were 1.47 (95% CI, 1.21–1.79) for CHD and 1.52 (95% CI, 1.31–1.76) for stroke. Carotid plaque measured by the degree of diameter stenosis was also significantly associated with increased risk of CHD (p for trend<0.0001) and stroke (p for trend<0.0001). However, these associations were largely attenuated when adjusting for IMT measurements. Conclusions: This prospective study indicates a significant association between carotid IMT and incidence of CHD and stroke in Chinese adults. These measurements may be useful for cardiovascular risk assessment and stratification in Chinese
Peri-Pubertal Emergence of UNC-5 Homologue Expression by Dopamine Neurons in Rodents
Puberty is a critical period in mesocorticolimbic dopamine (DA) system development, particularly for the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) projection which achieves maturity in early adulthood. The guidance cue netrin-1 organizes neuronal networks by attracting or repelling cellular processes through DCC (deleted in colorectal cancer) and UNC-5 homologue (UNC5H) receptors, respectively. We have shown that variations in netrin-1 receptor levels lead to selective reorganization of mPFC DA circuitry, and changes in DA-related behaviors, in transgenic mice and in rats. Significantly, these effects are only observed after puberty, suggesting that netrin-1 mediated effects on DA systems vary across development. Here we report on the normal expression of DCC and UNC5H in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by DA neurons from embryonic life to adulthood, in both mice and rats. We show a dramatic and enduring pubertal change in the ratio of DCC:UNC5H receptors, reflecting a shift toward predominant UNC5H function. This shift in DCC:UNC5H ratio coincides with the pubertal emergence of UNC5H expression by VTA DA neurons. Although the distribution of DCC and UNC5H by VTA DA neurons changes during puberty, the pattern of netrin-1 immunoreactivity in these cells does not. Together, our findings suggest that DCC:UNC5H ratios in DA neurons at critical periods may have important consequences for the organization and function of mesocorticolimbic DA systems
β1 Integrin Maintains Integrity of the Embryonic Neocortical Stem Cell Niche
IInteractions between laminins and integrin receptors hold neural stem cells in place at the ventricular surface of embryonic brain. Transient disruption leads to abnormal stem cell divisions and permanent cortical malformation
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